Cyprus not committed to accession to Partnership for Peace

Cyprus Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has said that President Demetris Christofias has not undertaken any commitment to submit an application for Cyprus’ accession to Partnership for Peace (PFP).

The Cypriot official was responding to questions regarding an amendment submitted by Cypriot MEP Yiannakis Matsis on the report by Finish MEP Ari Vatanen on the role of NATO in the security architecture of the EU, by which Matsis calls on the Cyprus Government to submit an application for Cyprus’ accession to the Partnership for Peace.

Stephanou noted that the Cyprus Government is confronted with the problem of the Turkish invasion and occupation and has been engaged in talks aiming at the settlement of the Cyprus question and the demilitarization of the country “so, it cannot submit at the same time an application to join a military organization as the Partnership for Peace”.

Invited to say why the Cyprus government does not submit an application to join this organization thus exposing Turkey, since it is certain that Ankara will veto Cyprus’ accession to the organization, Stephanou said “you must judge the policy on the basis of your goals and how you better serve them” through it.

He said Turkey’s role on this issue and its relations with the EU is another issue that must be discussed by Cyprus’ political leadership.

Ari Vatanen's report approved by the European Parliament plenary with 293 votes in favour, 283 against and 60 abstentions, encourages Cyprus "to review its political position on its membership of the Partnership for Peace".

At the same time the MEPs deplore the fact that the Cyprus problem continues "to badly impair the development of EU-NATO cooperation" and calls upon Turkey to cease hindering cooperation between the EU and NATO.

Cyprus, an EU member state since May 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Turkey which aspires to become an EU member state does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus.