Barroso says a Cyprus solution would be in Turkey’s interest

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said that a solution to the Cyprus issue would constitute a “historic, important step” which would be in the interest of Cyprus, Europe and Turkey.

Speaking during a press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Barroso on Monday, Barroso said that under this context, Turkey’s support to the negotiations, currently underway in Cyprus for a comprehensive settlement, is significant.

President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in direct negotiations since early September last year, aiming at reunifying the island, divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

Barroso assured Erdogan that the Commission fully backs Turkey’s efforts for accession. He welcomed the progress made in the opening of two more chapters and called on Turkey to revive efforts to promote reforms and continue the country’s modernization.

In his remarks, Erdogan said Turkey supports the planned Nabucco pipeline to Europe and would never use it as a weapon in political disputes.

Erdogan had earlier warned that Turkey would review its support for the 12 billion dollar project, if the energy portion of its EU accession talks remained blocked.

The Turkish Prime Minister assured Barroso of his government’s determination to make every effort for the talks underway in Cyprus to end in a solution. He reiterated that his government grants “full support” to Turkish Cypriot leader Talat, adding the only thing his country is interested in is a “fair and viable solution”.

To a question about the opening of Turkish ports and airport to Cypriot planes and ships, Erdogan repeated that it is associated with direct trade between the EU and the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus.

Turkey, which does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state since 1st May 2004, has so far failed to implement the additional Protocol of the Ankara Agreement, which provides for the opening of its ports and airports to Cyprus.