The Cypriot EU presidency is prepared to face all scenarios as regards any Turkish attempt to disorientate Nicosia from exercising its six monthly rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, which begins in July.
Diplomatic sources have told CNA that the Cypriot government does not exclude the possibility that Turkey attempts to create artificial tension as regards Cyprus.
It is expected that Turkey could act so in an effort to disorientate Nicosia from exercising successfully its six – monthly EU rotating presidency.
Nicosia has repeatedly conveyed the message to its EU partners that it is prepared to face all scenarios and has acted in a pre-emptive manner.
Turkish officials have said Ankara would freeze any relations with the six monthly EU presidency, during Cyprus` term which begins in July.
Cyprus believes that Turkey`s stance concerns the EU exclusively and relates to EU institutions and recalls the December 2011 European Council conclusions, in which the EU leaders express serious concerns over the Turkish stance and threats and call for full respect for the role of the Presidency of the Council, which is a fundamental institutional feature of the EU provided for in the Treaty.
The Cypriot EU presidency has said it would act as an honest broker, promoting the EU interests, but at the same time it will continue facing Turkish threats and provocations and will not attempt to hide under the carpet the Cyprus problem and the continuing Turkish occupation of 37% of Cyprus` territory.
Nicosia has conveyed the message that the Cyprus issue and the Cyprus Presidency of the EU are two parallel and independent processes, and it will not accept to have a second class presidency due to its national problem and to the stance of Turkey towards the Council of the EU.
Accession negotiations with Turkey began in October 2005. Turkey has so far managed to open 13 of the 34 chapters. Only one chapter has opened and closed, the chapter on science.
In December 2006, due to the Turkish failure to apply to Cyprus the Additional Protocol to the Ankara Agreement, the European Council decided that eight relevant chapters will not be opened and no chapter will be provisionally closed until Turkey has fulfilled its commitment. The eight chapters are: Free Movement of Goods, Right of Establishment and Freedom to Provide Services, Financial Services, Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries, Transport Policy, Customs Union and External Relations.
In addition, France has freezed other five chapters, while Cyprus froze in December 2009 other six chapters.
The last time that a negotiating chapter opened was during the Spanish EU presidency in June 2010.
Three more chapters could open but the Commission deems that they are too difficult for the current stage of negotiations, while Turkey believes that the cost for their opening is not affordable for now.
Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus` northern part, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus and refuses to normalize relations with Nicosia, a condition which is clearly stated in the EU Turkey negotiation framework.
