E.U. Sources: Greek Cypriot Side Was Obliged To Accept Turkey's Proposal Of Verbal Commitment

BRUSSELS (AA) - The Greek Cypriot administration was obliged to accept Turkey's proposal of verbal commitment, EU sources said on Friday.
     EU sources summarized the bargaining between Turkey and the EU as follows:
     Cyprus: Turkey will make verbal commitment instead of initialing the paragraph about Cyprus. Although it rejected it first, the Greek Cypriot administration had to accept the proposal as result of intense pressure.
     Diplomatic sources said that this commitment that Turkey was going to announce as an expression of good will, will be included in the final declaration.
     Derogations: The EU removed the expression of 'permanent' in the final version of the draft declaration. The Turkish party welcomed it.
     Alternative negotiation target: Under a change to this article which constitutes one of the most important factors, the sentence saying that full membership negotiations can be halted only if Turkey gives up EU full membership is added. The Turkish party also welcomed this article.
     Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his EU counterparts during the meetings that his signing any document was out of question.
     (UK-MS)
2004-12-17