Sener: If Cyprus Issue Is Considered A Precondition For Turkey's E.U. Membership, It Should Also Be A Precondition For E.U. Membership Of Greek Cypriot Side

ANKARA - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said on Sunday that if Cyprus issue was to be considered a precondition for Turkey's European Union (EU) membership, it should also be a precondition for EU membership of Greek Cypriot side.
Prior to his departure for Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Sener told reporters that a specific source transfer to TRNC government for elections was out of question.
Sener said that Cyprus issue was not a one-sided issue and it had two sides.
Stance of Turkey could not be sufficient for solution of the issue, Sener stated.
Sener noted that the other side should respond to positive steps taken by Turkey and TRNC with a similar good will.
They did not consider Cyprus issue a precondition for Turkey's EU full membership process, Sener pointed out.
Sener said that there was not any expression in EU texts that Cyprus issue was considered a precondition.
''If Cyprus issue is to be considered a precondition for Turkey's EU membership, it should also be a precondition for EU membership of the Greek Cypriot side. It is not possible to consider it a precondition for Turkey,'' Sener added.
(BRC-AY) 07.12.2003