Slovene President urges Turkey to fulfill its EU obligations

The President of Slovenia Dr Janez Drnovsek urged Turkey to comply with its European Union obligations and show that it can meet European standards.

In statements to the press after talks with President Tassos Papadopoulos, Drnovsek noted that the Cyprus problem is no longer an issue that concerns only Cyprus, but also the European Union.

“Turkey should comply with its obligations and agreements that have been made already during the course of its approachment to the EU. We have to make efforts so that Turkey really shows it can meet European standards”, he said.

He added that “sometimes we have to be patient, it is not easy for them (Turkey). Everybody has had problems on this EU course, but certainly EU standards and objectives must be met and honored”, he stressed.

President Papadopoulos expressed the belief that negotiations on a technical level on the Cyprus issue could start ‘soon enough’.

“After our initiative in Paris the hope is that we will be able to start soon enough negotiations on a technical level, on matters which will help create a better climate but equally important, that we shall be able to discuss the preparation of negotiations on the core issues of the Cyprus problem. The one process is interrelated to the other. I am hopeful that eventually Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots will consent to the convening of the technical committees and we expect the UN Secretary General to announce any such agreement”, President Papadopoulos stressed.