TURKEY: Rompuy, Barroso urge ErdoÄŸan to help reach a Cyprus settlement

Herman van Rompuy and José Manuel Barroso look forward at continued support from newly-elected Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan for a settlement in Cyprus and of the Kurdish issue.
In a joint message, congratulating ErdoÄŸan on his election, the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission note that Turkey is a key partner for the European Union, comprising a candidate country negotiating EU accession, a neighbour, an important trade partner and a foreign policy ally.
“We look forward to enhancing our cooperation in all these areas” the Presidents of the EU institutions note.
They also stress their expectation that ErdoÄŸan will maintain the conciliatory role that his new position involves, and strive to encompass all communities, beliefs, sensitivities, opinions and lifestyles of the Turkish society.
“We also look forward to your continuing support to the current process aiming at a settlement of the Kurdish issue, in which you already invested valuable efforts and on your continuing support to reach a settlement in Cyprus” the message by Rompuy and Bassoso concludes.