Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-09-05

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] DANISH PM - CYPRUS PRESIDENT - STATEMENTS

[01] DANISH PM - CYPRUS PRESIDENT - STATEMENTS

Replying to questions, after official talks here with Cyprus President Tassos Papapoulos, Rasmussen said the opening of accession negotiations on a number of chapters will depend on Turkeys implementation of its contractural obligations to all memberstates.

``A non compliance with this may have severe consequences with regard to the opening of negotiations on a certain number of chapters and a failure to implement Turkeys obligation in full will affect the overall progress in the negotiations between Turkey and the EU and Turkey should take stock of that, he warned.

Referring to the Cyprus question, he said the objective is very clear, Cyprus should be reunited. I strongly regret that we were not possible to find a solution to that before the entrance of Cyprus into the EU but now we should do our outmost to find a solution to that problem, within the framework of the UN, he added.

Rasmussen thanked Cyprus for its close cooperation and help during the evacuation of Danes from Lebanon.

In his remarks, Papadopoulos stressed the need for good preparation and a show of willingness on the part of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides to negotiate constructively towards reunification.

Papadopoulos said they had a very useful and friendly meeting, which covered a wide range of issues concerning European issues, bilateral relations and the Cyprus problem.

Rasmussen said he expressed his gratitude for the close cooperation and help during the evacuation of Danes from Lebanon (1500 out of 5800 were evacuated through Cyprus).

He said he discussed how to further develop bilateral ties with Cyprus and explore a certain number of areas for future cooperation.

Rasmussen expressed hope that a recent meeting between the President and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat ``will pave the way for a positive and constructive process``.

On July 8 Papadopoulos met Talat agreed the commencement of meetings between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots on a technical level on issues that affect the day to day life of people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues.

Rasmussen said they also exchanged views on the problems we have seen because Turkey has not yet fully implemented the so called Ankara protocol and I would like to stress that I expect from Turkey full, unconditional and non-discriminatory implementation of the this protocol, which implies removal of all obstacles to the free movement of goods, that is also free access to ports and airports for all EU member states, including the Republic of Cyprus.

Asked what should happen to Turkey if it does not lift the embargo on Cyprus, Rasmussen reiterated that he expects full implementation of the additional protocol that is free access to Turkish ports and airports.

And then the question is what will happen if Turkey does not fully implement the Ankara protocol. In my opinion Turkey has a legal obligation to allow free access to ports and airports, according to the Association Agreement between Turkey and the EU and its member states. So if Turkey does not fulfill this requirement we must look closer into the legal aspects of that, he added.

Asked about the participation of his country in the formation of the UN international force on Lebanon, Rasmussen said we have discussed the situation in Lebanon and I can confirm that Denmark is ready to contribute to the UN operation through a maritime contribution. As a member of the UN Security Council, Denmark is very much focused now on full implementation of the SC resolution 1701 and of course we feel an obligation to contribute to that through the UN military operation.

We have not discussed the possibility of having Danish military facilities on Cyprus. I dont think it will be necessary in relation to a maritime contribution. But we appreciate very much that Cyprus has invited other countries to establish military facilities here, he added.

Asked about what he has done towards a political settlement in the past two years, since the Greek Cypriots rejected a UN solution plan, Papadopoulos said reunification naturally takes the will and the willingness of two sides. We have always been exerting ourselves in efforts to regain this reunification. As also the Prime Minister has said, we believe the solution of the Cyprus problem must remain under the aegis of the UN. Therefore we have been always asking the UN to commence a new effort, a new round of negotiations.

It is the view of the SG that for him to embark upon a new effort concerning the reunification of Cyprus we need good preparation between the two sides and a show of willingness from both sides to negotiate constructively towards the end of reunification. We have different interpretations of what reunification means between us and the Turkish Cypriot side. For them reunification is the creation of two separate legal entities on the island and for us reunification means reunification of the territory, of the economy, of the institutions and of course of the society.

Invited to comment on press reports that top officials in Brussels regret that they let Cyprus join the EU, without a political settlement, Papadopoulos said we join in their regret that a solution of reunification has not yet come to Cyprus. We do all our efforts but as I said before it takes two to bring about reunification and of course Turkey, which has invaded the island in 1974 and occupies 37% of our land, prevents the closer cooperation between the two communities and bringing about the reunification by imposing on the Turkish Cypriots whatever isolation they are now suffering under.

Asked about the release of three British soldiers, who had been serving a life sentence for the murder of a Danish tourist guide, Papadopoulos said no punishment for murder, such a heinous crime, can ever be fair. We havent got death punishment in Cyprus, naturally but we have laws which impose the conditions under which convicted criminals have to serve in prison.

They gained remission of their sentence when my predecessor was elected. I gave them none and then under the law they are entitled to certain days per month of remission of their sentence. Thats the law. And they have the right and this is a country where the rule of law prevails and there was nothing that could be done to keep them in prison. Parents of the victim wrote to me and I wrote back to them and I know that this is a very emotional issue. I wish that the law would allow me to do something else, he added.

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