Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-01-05

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

Friday, 5 January 2001

CONTENTS

• [01] Cyprus determined to go ahead with EU accession despite Turkish threats

[01] Cyprus determined to go ahead with EU accession despite Turkish threats

Mr Kasoulides urged Ankara to work for a mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus problem that would allow Turkish Cypriots to follow the rest of the island into Europe.

Asked by journalists to comment on a report that Turkey plans to annex the northern part of Cyprus, Mr Kasoulides said this was not the first time Turkey had made such threats and expressed the belief it was prompted by positive developments in Cyprus' EU accession course.

"This kind of intimidation, which may intensify as accession nears, will not deter us," he said. "We are determined to move ahead with accession with or without a solution," he added.

Moreover, Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said that any such attempt on the part of Turkey will mean the end of her European aspirations.

"I recall that Turkey's application for accession to the EU has been made for a particular geographical area, which certainly does not include the occupied areas of Cyprus," he said.

He added that this is implied from Turkey's application for accession to the EU and from a number of documents of the European Union itself, including the latest EU Summit decision at Nice, according to which the Cyprus problem must be solved on the basis of the provisions of the UN Security Council resolutions and also from the fact that in the Turkey-EU accession partnership reference is made to Turkey's obligation to contribute towards a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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