Zaheos Claims Republic Of Cyprus Should Be Recognized

THESSALONIKI - Greek Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General Sotos Zaheos claimed that the Republic of Cyprus (the Greek Cypriot Administration) should be recognized by Ankara. ``Otherwise Turkey would not be given an open check for the European Union (EU)`` he affirmed.
In an interview with Greek ``Thessaloniki`` newspaper, Zaheos said on Monday that ``his assessment would not mean that the Greek Cypriot side would veto beginning of entry negotiations between Turkey and the EU``. He added that the Greek Cypriot Administration and Greece were separate states, and that they could display different attitudes about Turkey`s membership during the EU Summit in December.
Expressing his hope over beginning of a new initiative both in the EU and the United Nations about efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus controversy after the (EU) Summit, Zaheos said that the initiative should follow the same pattern of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan`s plan.
(UK-ULG) 04.10.2004