Kotzias says Merkel is not an institution on her own in the EU
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias has said that the German Chancellor “is not a European institution on her own”, and thus does not have any authority to replace other established bodies of the European Union.
Greek Minister was commenting on what is believed to be an offer put forward by Angela Merkel to Tayip Erdogan for assistance in reducing refugee flows to central and northern Europe in exchange for lifting hurdles which have up to now blocked crucial chapters of the negotiation process for Turkey becoming a full member of the EU.
Kotzias underlined that he personally is considering Germany’s “thoughts and desires” concerning EU-Turkey relations, “but this does not imply that her thoughts and aspirations are also those of the rest of us”.
The government of Cyprus, through statements made by President Nicos Anastasiades and Foreign Minister Yiannis Kassoulides, has categorically rejected the idea of lifting its veto on the opening of further negotiation chapters unless Turkey complies fully with preconditions put to her by the EU.
The Greek Foreign Minister, attending a Press Conference on the closing of a two-day International Summit in Athens on Religious and Cultural Pluralism in the Middle East, has acknowledged however that a number of EU officials have undertaken the initiative of “commiting Turkey to act in a way that will decrease the tension of the refugee crisis in Western Europe”.
Kotzias was also asked to comment on the construction of a pipeline which will carry water from Turkey to the occupied north of Cyprus.
He reckons this issue “must be connected with an effort by some – mainly Turkey – to create a kind of secondary pipeline to that with natural gas”, which is always, he added, on Ankara’s mind once there is a solution in Cyprus.
Nevertheless, he was not prepared to elaborate further, and just added that he will vistit Cyprus from 26 to 28 October and “all these matters will be discussed extensively” with the Cypriot administration.
Kotzias did however refer to the ongoing negotiations in search of a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem. He said that “whichever power, person, state, personality, international organization, truly wants a solution, this must be one in which there will be a fully independent and sovereign state, member of the European Union”.
«I believe –said Kotzias – that a member state of the EU does not need guarantees from third parties, i.e. other countries, as is now the case with Britain, Turkey and Greece. Turkey especially, has violated in many ways the Guarantor Agreements”
“This system”, he added “is weathered, anachronistic, and must be terminated”.
“There cannot be a positive result in a referendum, if the occupation on the island is not ended, or at least agreed to before the people from both communities go to the polls”.
Turkey invaded Cyprus in July 1974 following an attempted coup by the military junta in Greece to overthrow Archbishop Makarios, the country’s president. Turkish forces, still based on the island, have occupied almost 40% of its area in the north. The Turkish Cypriots declared their own state, namely the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is not recognized by any country in the world other than Turkey.
CNA – Christos Michaelides – Greece, ATHENS – CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY