Moves aiming at withholding two Cypriot seats in the European Parliament (EP) during efforts to solve the Cyprus problem are not constructive, Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Marcos Kyprianou said on Thursday.
Invited to comment on press reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat has sent a letter to European Parliament President Hans Gert Poetering requesting that two out of Cyprus' six seats in the EP remain vacant until the solution of the Cyprus problem, Kyprianou said that the Republic of Cyprus is entitled six seats in the European Parliament.
''The way these seats are distributed is a matter of internal legislation of each member-state and not an EU matter,'' the Foreign Minister noted, recalling that in 2004 during Cyprus' accession to the EU, it has been agreed that different provisions could be made in case of a solution ιν the Cyprus problem.
Noting that given the so far developments in the current UN-led negotiation process the Cyprus problem will not be solved until June when the European elections will take place, Kyprianou said that thus the EP elections will take place according to the Cypriot legislation, under which Turkish Cypriots can vote and can submit candidacy for a seat in the EP.
''If a solution of the Cyprus problem stipulates different provisions these could be made. But until then the Cypriot legislation applies,'' he added, noting that ''at this stage of the solution effort such moves against the Republic of Cyprus are not constructive.''
Cyprus, an EU member state has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Talat entered in UN-led direct talks early September 2008 and have so far held 23 meetings.
Furthermore, asked about the cancellation of a meeting between Talat and US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Kyprianou referred to a statement made by a State Department spokesman on the issue.
He said that Cyprus has expressed its concerns because such a meeting could be interpreted as upgrading of the regime in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus. «Such a meeting would not be productive in a time where negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus problem are taking place” he noted.
Asked if he will meet Clinton, Kyprianou said he will attend international conferences which will be attended by Secretary Clinton such as the conferences in Prague and Constantinople.
''We might meet there but the request of the Cyprus Government is that after so many years an official meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the two countries should take place in Washington,'' he concluded.
