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10 décembre 2004

NICOSIA, (Xinhuanet) — The Cypriot government has hoped that Turkey would recognize the Republic of Cyprus before the start of Turkey’s entry talks at next week’s EU summit, government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said Thursday.

"Cyprus expects to have its expectations met as far as Turkey’s accession course is concerned," the spokesman said. His remarks came one day after Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos reiterated that Turkey must recognize the republic, since it would be a paradox to have Ankara seeking Nicosia’s positive vote for a start of its EU entry talks without recognizing the republic’s existence.

Chrysostomides said that the Netherlands, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, is in touch with all member states on the matter.

The Netherlands said Thursday that it was sure it could resolve the issue before the EU convened on Dec. 17, when the bloc would discuss whether to open entry talks with Turkey.

Chrysostomides reiterated that Nicosia has no wish to exercise its right of veto to block the start of the entry talks as a Europe-orientated Turkey would serve everybody’s interests.

"However, we do seek to satisfy certain conditions. Turkey should help us so that we can help in this direction as well," he said.

Cyprus has been divided into Greek Cypriot south and Turkish Cypriot north since 1974, when Turkey sent troops to take control of the northern third of the island following a failed Greek Cypriot coup seeking union with Greece.

Turkey recognizes only the Turkish cypriot controlled northern Cyprus, while the international community views the Greek Cypriot government in the south as the sole legitimate representative of the whole island.

Cyprus joined the EU on May 1 together with other nine European countries.