Greek FΜ says 2008 window of opportunity for Cyprus settlement

Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Dora Bakoyiannis said 2008 provides a window of opportunity for the Cyprus problem and that, ”should Turkey be ready to comply with the European acquis, the EU must in turn honour its commitments and grant full member status.”

Speaking on ”The Transformation of Southeastern Europe: A Challenge for Smart Power” at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in Washington, Bakoyiannis noted that ”our neighbour’s EU membership will for Greece be a moment of great satisfaction, it will mean that years of negotiations and of laborious efforts have borne fruit.”

Replying to questions from the audience, Bakoyiannis said Turkey could not become a member of the EU if the Cyprus problem remained unsolved and referred to the presence of Turkish troops on the island.

She added that for peacekeeping purposes in Lebanon there is a multinational military force of 11,000 soldiers, while Turkey is maintaining its occupation of Cyprus’ northern part with 40,000 soldiers.

Bakoyiannis is in Washington for a working visit and is scheduled to meet on Thursday with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Under Secretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, as well as members of the Congress, senior officials at the Pentagon, and National Security Advisor Steven Hadley.