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IF TURKEY CHOOSES NOT TO COOPERATE UNDER CYPRUS' EU PRESIDENCY, IT WILL HARM MEMBERSHIP PROSPECTS - CYPRUS FM
news.am
April 03, 2012 | 21:20
If Turkey chooses not to cooperate with EU under Cyprus' presidency,
it will harm its membership prospects, told Cyprus FM Erato
Kozakou-Markoullis at a press conference with her Armenian colleague,
Edvard Nalbandyan, held in Yerevan.
Commenting on warning statements in Turkish side about freezing
contacts with EU if Cyprus' presidency is appointed, she called
attention to Turkish occupation of Cyprus and illegalities which are
part of parcel of that occupation.
"Turkey received a very firm and a very clear response on the part
of the European Union, at the European Council level. The threats
of Turkey were condemned by the foreign ministers of the EU. If
Turkey chooses not to cooperate, they are harming their prospects for
membership in the European Union. This is definitely not a behavior
of a candidate country, and definitely there will be consequences,"
she told.
She added that there have been over 150 meetings between the leaders of
two communities of the divided island, but unfortunately no progress
has been recorded on key issues, such as property and the issue
of territory.
"Turkey refuses to cooperate through Turkish Cypriot community. They
threatened that if there is no agreement by the first of July, the
one possibility is the annexation of the occupied area to Turkey,"
she reminded, adding that prospects of reunification are thereby
diminishing.
"The entire leadership of Cyprus is determined to continue our
efforts," Kozakou-Markoullis said, greatly appreciating the assistance
of Armenia.
From: A. Papazian
news.am
April 03, 2012 | 21:20
If Turkey chooses not to cooperate with EU under Cyprus' presidency,
it will harm its membership prospects, told Cyprus FM Erato
Kozakou-Markoullis at a press conference with her Armenian colleague,
Edvard Nalbandyan, held in Yerevan.
Commenting on warning statements in Turkish side about freezing
contacts with EU if Cyprus' presidency is appointed, she called
attention to Turkish occupation of Cyprus and illegalities which are
part of parcel of that occupation.
"Turkey received a very firm and a very clear response on the part
of the European Union, at the European Council level. The threats
of Turkey were condemned by the foreign ministers of the EU. If
Turkey chooses not to cooperate, they are harming their prospects for
membership in the European Union. This is definitely not a behavior
of a candidate country, and definitely there will be consequences,"
she told.
She added that there have been over 150 meetings between the leaders of
two communities of the divided island, but unfortunately no progress
has been recorded on key issues, such as property and the issue
of territory.
"Turkey refuses to cooperate through Turkish Cypriot community. They
threatened that if there is no agreement by the first of July, the
one possibility is the annexation of the occupied area to Turkey,"
she reminded, adding that prospects of reunification are thereby
diminishing.
"The entire leadership of Cyprus is determined to continue our
efforts," Kozakou-Markoullis said, greatly appreciating the assistance
of Armenia.
From: A. Papazian