Cyprus will assume the EU rotating Presidency in the second half of 2012, despite Turkish objections, President of the Republic Demetris Christofias said on Monday.

“Turkey must realize that in any case Cyprus will assume the Presidency. This is clear both by the European Council and the Republic of Cyprus of course,“ he said, replying to questions during an Economist Conference on Sustainable, competitive and secure energy in Europe taking place in Nicosia.

Noting that Cyrus stands ready to solve the problems with Turkey, he noted that “the reason for the non-solution of these problems, or if you will, their transformation to more complex ones is Turkey`s policy.“

“Unfortunately, as Turkey is being upgraded and its role in the region becomes more crucial, Ankara is playing an expansionist role instead of a peacemaking one,“ he noted.

He made clear that the EU Presidency cannot be exploited by Cyprus over Turkey, in the sense that the Presidency represents the whole of the EU.

“We do not want, and we will not, give a message that we are trying to exploit the Presidency to pressure Turkey. Turkey puts pressure on itself,“ he said, recalling Ankara`s declaration that it would freeze its relations with the EU if Cyprus assumes the EU Presidency.

He added that by then, Cyprus would like Turkey to “listen to reason“ so that it would normalise its relations with the Republic of Cyprus.

“We will exercise an EU Presidency which will bear the signature of Cyprus and not one which would simply serve the Cypriot interests,“ he said.

Stating that “it is way too risky for the Cypriot Presidency to live its seal in relation to Turkey,“ Christofias added that “for this reason we will be very cautious.“

Replying to the same question, House of Representatives President Giannakis Omirou described Turkey attitude as a provocation against the EU.

“As a candidate country, Turkey should respect and implement the decisions of competent European collective institutional bodies,“ Omirou said, recalling that Turkey refuses to implement its obligations towards the EU and Cyprus stemming from the 2006 European Council conclusions, that is, to implement the Ankara Protocol and open its ports and airports to Cypriot shipping and Cypriot aircraft.

Noting that during the second half of 2012 the EU Presidency will be exercised by state, a part of which is under occupation by another state which is candidate for EU accession, Omirou added that it is not possible for UN Security Council resolutions and decisions by EU collective institutional bodies to be excluded from the Presidency`s agenda.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory. Turkey, which does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus, has threatened it would freeze its relations with the EU during the Cypriot EU Presidency.