The implementation of the EU direct trade regulation for the Turkish Cypriots demands a constructive stance by
In statements after a meeting of the Council of Ministers, Pashiardis noted that the government consults with its European partners for the solution of this issue ”aiming at the financial assistance of the Turkish Cypriots as legal citizens of the
Invited to comment on yesterday’s statements by German Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Pashiardis said that the government does not attribute any political dimension to Steinmeier’s reference to a ”Northern Cyprus.”
”We do not have any doubt that the German Minister’s specific reference is a mere geographical definition with no political implications whatsoever,” Pashiardis noted.
According to Pashiardis, the German Minister expressed his belief that he does not consider a deal between the EU 25 on the direct trade regulation as insuperable.
”The government has no reason to disagree with the German Minister of Foreign Affairs’ belief,” Pashiardis noted, pointing out that ”undoubtedly, however, the overcoming of this problem requires a positive and constructive stance by the Turkish side, so that any political considerations would be removed from the effort towards the economic assistance of the Turkish Cypriots.”
”The direct trade is a clear financial issue which must not be attached in any way to the political considerations of the Turkish side, or identified with the artificial issue of the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.”
Commenting on German press reports that President Tassos Papadopoulos committed himself to changing the climate regarding the direct trade regulation, Pashiardis said that ”the only commitment President Papadopoulos gave is that the Cypriot government would continue consultations so that a solution would be found to this issue.”
”He gave this commitment and he reiterates this commitment, a commitment which is in line with the EU Summit’s conclusions,” he added.
Regarding the opening of the EU chapters for
Pashiardis noted that ”the Cypriot Representative has clear and specific instructions on our side’s response in case the Finnish Presidency suggests the opening of chapters of
The EU General Affairs Council decided on January 11, 2006, to resume ”without delay” the work for the implementation of the EU regulation for direct trade with the Turkish Cypriot community, adopted by the EU Commission on April 26, 2004.
