BRUSSELS (AA) - Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark said on Friday about the decision of the EU to open entry talks with Turkey in 2005, ''if you look at international law, then you can rightly say it is not formal recognition of the Greek Cypriot state from the Turkish side.''
He said, ''for those of us who have a practical approach to life, it is actually a recognition of Cyprus.''
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Goran Persson of Sweden said he really hoped that Turkey and Greek Cypriot side would find a solution so they would have a sensible negotiation process and then an accession process for Turkey which was not marred by this issue.
Prime Minister Bertie Ahern of Ireland said that it was not to be read and interpreted that Turkey recognized Greek Cypriot side and it would be an interesting 10 years.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis of Greece said that Turkey-Greece relations would be improved under control of the EU henceforth.
Noting that Greece supported Turkey's perspective of Europe, Caramanlis added that Turkey's being an European country would mean its being a good neighbor and partner to everyone.
(UK-MS)
2004-12-17