Spokesman reiterates government’s position on Turkey’s accession negotiations




Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides has reiterated that it is expected that Turkey will fulfil its obligations in accordance with the Negotiating Framework and the various European Council Conclusions before any of its accession negotiating chapters related to its obligations vis-à-vis Cyprus can Progress.

At the same time, he makes it clear that Cyprus has included criteria for the closing of Chapter 17, which had been previously blocked from opening by France.

In a written statement, Christodoulides refers to the history of Turkey`s accession negotiations and how a number of its negotiating chapters were not allowed to open due to its failure to meet its European Cyprus related obligations.

As regards chapter 17, to do with economic and monetary policy, had been frozen by France in 2007 together with another three chapters.

The discussion of starting negotiations on Chapter 17 has been underway since 2014 when the French government notified the EU that it had reviewed its political decision over the specific chapter, he adds.

He further recalls that following Turkey`s provocative actions within Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in 2014 the government had decided not to consent to the opening of any chapters during an illegal NAVTEX issued by Turkey for an area included within Cyprus` EEZ.

In this context, he adds, discussions at EU level resumed after the Turkish NAVTEX expired.

Right now, Christodoulides explains, a dialogue is underway between member states on the criteria necessary for closing a chapter, since there are no criteria for the opening of this particular chapter.

“On the basis of the General Affairs Council of 2006 which state that no chapter can close without first the Additional Protocol is implemented and as regards the Republic of Cyprus, Cyprus has included in the closing criteria of Chapter 17 the matter of the full and with no discriminations implementation of the Additional Protocol”, he points out.

At the same time he notes that as Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has reiterated in order for there to be any progress in the chapters which have to do with Turkey`s obligations vis-à-vis Cyprus what is expected of Turkey is for it to fulfil its obligations as they are stated in the Negotiating Framework and the various Council Conclusions.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades had suspended his participation in the peace talks to reunite the island divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion, following a Navigational Telex or NAVTEX, issued by Turkey in October last year, as Turkish seismic research vessel “Barbaros” violated the Republic’s EEZ.

The Turkish NAVTEX expired on April 6 and Barbaros left Cyprus` EEZ. UN backed talk resumed in May aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof.

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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