Eroglu: Cyprus Should Not Be Put Forward As A Political Criteria In Front Of Turkey

LEFKOSA - Dervis Eroglu, the Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Thursday that Cyprus should not be put in front of Turkey as a political criteria in European Union (EU) full membership process if it was to be complied with the supremacy of law.
Eroglu made a written statement and stated that it was Greek-Greek Cypriot side which started Cyprus question, stressing that, ''if Cyprus is a problem that would constitute an obstacle to accession of any side to the EU, membership of Greece who acted together with Greek Cypriot side to demolish Turkish Cypriot people should not have been accepted. Similarly, illegal application of the Greek Cypriot side, which was made with the name of ''Cyprus Republic'' should not have been accepted either.
Evaluating the Strategy Paper, which was an addition to Turkey's Progress Report issued by the EU Commission on Wednesday, Eroglu said an expression was used saying that 'insolubility in Cyprus may constitute an important obstacle in front of Turkey's EU expectations'.
Eroglu reiterated that Commission made a call to Turkey and Turkish Cypriot side to resume talks under the basis of the U.N. Secretary General.
Eroglu said, ''unfortunately, a mistake was once again made in the Enlargement Strategy Paper and a connection was made as a result of the last minute efforts and lobby activities of the Greece and Greek Cypriot side between the Cyprus question and Turkey's accession to the EU.'' Eroglu said Turkish Cypriot people desired an acceptable solution and being a part of the EU together with Turkey.
''Turkish Cypriot side has already been expending great efforts to settle an acceptable and lasting solution on the basis of equality and sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot people and state, and influential and de facto guarantee of the Republic of Turkey stemming from the agreements of 1960,'' he stressed.
Eroglu said the EU continuously told the Greek Cypriot side that (Cyprus) would be a member of the EU even if there is a solution or not. He said by putting Cyprus issue as a precondition in front of Turkey, it showed once again that a double standard was implemented.
(AY) 06.11.2003