Cyprus wants to change EU recommendations on Turkey

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said on Sunday that the government would be making every effort on all levels and with all the means it has at its disposal to convince its European partners on its positions regarding the Cyprus problem, so that changes are made to the recommendations of the European Commission on the fulfillment of Turkey’s obligations towards the European Union.

He added that no country believes that suspending Turkey‘s EU accession negotiations would either help the Cyprus problem or the long-term or short-term interests of Cyprus.

Speaking at Larnaca airport before departing for China, President Papadopoulos said it would be a ”grave mistake with irreversible consequences” for the Republic of Cyprus to accept to link Turkey’s EU progress with progress on the Cyprus problem, adding that this would make ”Cyprus a hostage of Turkey, which would have an excellent excuse not to fulfill its obligations” towards the EU.

Replying to questions, President Papadopoulos said ”all countries believe that Turkey is not meeting its obligations towards the EU, which include its obligations towards Cyprus, and that some kind of pressure should be exerted to oblige Turkey to fulfill its obligations.”

Referring to the European Commission’s recommendations, President Papadopoulos said ”other states do not believe they are satisfactory and we certainly do not consider them satisfactory.”

The President noted that Turkey believes that the fulfillment of its obligations towards the EU depends on progress on the Cyprus problem.

The Commission has recommended suspension of eight chapters in Turkey‘s membership talks, relating to the additional protocol to the Ankara Agreement, which urges Turkey to open its ports and airports to Cypriot vessels and aircraft.