Monday, 15 June 2009LEFKOSA - Guenter Verheugen, the vice-president of the European Commission, said on Monday that Cyprus talks continued under the leadership of the United Nations but it was Turkish and Greek cypriot leaders who would reach a solution on Cyprus question.
Speaking at a news conference in southern Cyprus, Verheugen said he would do nothing else but to encourage the parties to maintain the talks. He said the EU many times expressed readiness to give necessary support if requested.
He said any solution on Cyprus question should be in line with the principles of the EU and Accession Agreement.
Vice-president of the EU Commission Verheugen said he came to Cyprus upon an invitation from Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias to get information about the situation in Cyprus at first hand, to discuss some matter related to EU and to assess the economic crisis effecting the globe from the point of Cyprus.
Verheugen said he supported EU membership of Cyprus, noting that he wanted to observe the changes after the membership.
Verheugen said he had a positive impression after his talks in the island adding that use of euro brought some advantages and that "Cyprus" was relatively less affected by the economic crisis.
When a journalist said, "many countries reacted saying 'a divided island should not be accepted to EU, this was a mistake' when 'Cyprus republic' joined the EU in 2004," and asked whether membership of Cyprus to EU was really a mistake, Verheugen said, "no, it was not a mistake".
When a Greek Cypriot journalist asked to what extend it was right for the EU to maintain membership talks with Turkey although Turkish troops have not been withdrawn from the island yet and continued its presence on EU territory, Verheugen said both Turkey and Turkish Cypriots supported the UN plan in 2004, and noted, "why continuation of talks with Turkey should be assessed negatively?"
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Monday, 15 June 2009
Journal of Turkish Weekly
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