Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said on Wednesday that Cyprus enjoys ”the sympathy and support” of all EU member states regarding the island’s political problem, adding that this was evident through the conclusions of the General Affairs Council, which he described as the best since the 2004 referendum on a UN-proposed solution plan (the Annan plan).
Speaking at Larnaca Airport on his departure for Lisbon, President Papadopoulos said the conclusions were ”probably the best we have had since the referendum in Cyprus,” adding that ”it is a very good and comprehensive presentation of issues that concern us directly, such as the emphasis on Turkey’s obligation to proceed with the implementation of the Gambari agreement, that the future agreement on the Cyprus problem should comply with the principles and values on which the EU is founded, and the Security Council resolutions, and many more.”
He pointed out that this was the result of ”a long diplomatic effort†with the appropriate moves on the issue at the General Affairs Council, where Cyprus had made absolutely clear that the conclusions, which it considered very balanced, should remain as they are, without any changes.
”I think it is well known that eight or nine countries had submitted their own text, which altered the initial conclusions to some extent, but our steadfast position did not permit for the changes these members were pursuing,” he said.
The President added that ”some countries pointed out during the discussions that Cyprus is an EU member state and thus was entitled to the support and understanding of the Union’s members, more than a candidate country,” noting that ”this does not mean that Turkey does not have any supporters.”
”We have never hidden the difficulties. Certainly the positions of the countries are determined on the basis of their geopolitical and strategic interests and are not affected so easily by personal meetings,” he said.
The conclusions adopted on Monday by the EU foreign ministers call on Turkey to support the implementation of the agreed procedure of the July 8th Agreement which would lead to the comprehensive and viable solution of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework and based on the EU principles. Turkey is also asked to make concrete steps towards the creation of a good climate for a comprehensive solution.
Referring to the signing of the Lisbon Treaty in Portugal by the heads of state, President Papadopoulos said it was ”very important and of historic significance.”
He noted that with the Treaty the EU will be rid of continuous disputes regarding the future of Europe.
Asked how the Treaty would affect Cyprus, President Papadopoulos said ”an EU functioning smoothly without procedural difficulties regarding the composition of the European Parliament and the issues of voting, will be to the benefit of the EU.”
He also noted that the reform treaty averted the possibility of some like-minded states convening separately on a bilateral or multilateral basis in order to find solutions.
Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
President Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed on 8 July 2006, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of then UN Undersecretary for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari, to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both contributing to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.
