Cyprus supports Turkey’s EU membership under certain conditions, says MP

Turkey can join the European Union provided it meets its obligations to the Union and its member states, including Cyprus, the Chairman of the Cyprus House Committee on European Affairs Nicos Kleanthous has said.

Kleanthous was speaking during the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the EU (COSAC), which started on Monday in Stockholm.

In his speech Kleanthous responded to remarks by the President of the European Affairs Committee of the Turkish National Assembly Yasar Yakis, who talked about «artificial barriers» to Turkey's accession talks.

The Cypriot MP, who pointed out the importance given to the geostrategic and geopolitical position of Turkey in relation to the EU, stressed that “Cyprus supports the accession process of Turkey under conditions that have to do with the fulfillment of the country’s commitments to the European Union and its member states.”

He pointed out that full implementation of the Ankara Protocol by Turkey is not an «artificial barrier» to Turkey’s integration process.

Urging Turkey to fulfill its European obligations, Kleanthous said that anything less than that will work against the credibility of the EU.

Turkey which aspires to become an EU member does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member since May 2004. Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 and occupied 37% of its northern part.

On the sidelines of the Confernece Kleanhtous had contacts with representatives of Denmark and Poland, the countries which will, together with Cyprus, hold the presidency of the European Union in 2012.