Cyprus Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides has made it clear that Turkey’s EU accession course chapters will only open if Nicosia feels that the reason they were closed in the first place has been lifted.
If Turkey wishes to see them open, it should act accordingly, no chapters will open for free, he said in an interview with the Greek speaking radio in London, LGR.
At the same time, referring to the possible opening of the fenced off part of the Turkish occupied city of Famagusta, known as Varosha, in the context of confidence building measures, he stressed that time is of the essence, since it would take time for it to become habitable.
The fenced off area of Famagusta, he stressed, must be returned to UN administration prior to the referenda, to take place once an agreement is reached.
Varosha, the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta is also known as a ‘ghost town’. Varosha remains to this day deserted, abandoned to the elements. Efforts over the years for the legitimate citizens of Famagusta to return to the city have met with the refusal of the Turkish side, despite numerous decisions and resolutions by the UN, EU and other international institutions.
Referring to a meeting he had with British Minister of State for Europe David Lidington, Kasoulides said that Lidington briefed him on his recent visit to Turkey and his take on the backdrop on which efforts to reunite Cyprus, divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third, are starting.
The two men also discussed the situation in the Ukraine.
Kasoulides expressed the point of view that Cyprus has nothing to gain from the situation in the Ukraine. If further sanctions are imposed or if there are other consequences from the standoff between Russia the US and the EU, Cyprus will find it itself in the midst of trouble, he said. Cyprus, he noted, upholds certain principles which have to do with illegal referenda or the occupation of the territory of one country by another.
“Whichever way you look at the situation in the Ukraine, Cyprus has nothing to gain but rather it has to lose”, he noted.
Asked to comment on the EU recent progress report on Turkey, Kasoulides made it clear that Turkey’s accession course negotiating chapters will only open if the government feels that the reason they were closed in the first place has been lifted.
If Turkey wishes to see them open, it should act accordingly, he said, adding that no chapters will open for free.
As regards ongoing negotiations on the reunification of Cyprus, Kasoulides said that there have been some meetings and others will follow. During these meetings, the extent of differences between the two sides is being evaluated, he added.
The next stage will have to do with an effort to find convergences or to narrow the gap of existing differences, he said, adding that he expects that this will take place in April.
He pointed out that it is important that the two negotiators know the framework on which they are working.
“Our side knows the goal. The solution of the Cyprus issue will be based on a single country, a single sovereignty, one international personality and one nationality, while on the other hand the Turkish side which, up to date, did not agree with the above, now knows that we have the good will to take into consideration their concerns,” he stressed.
Kasoulides further said that if Turkey violates what has been agreed, the international community, which contributed to the efforts to reach agreement on the joint declaration President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader reached will blame the other side.
He also said US efforts were important for the agreement to be reached. He explained that the phrase “union in whole or in part with any other country or any form of partition or secession or any other unilateral change to the state of affairs will be prohibited”, included in the declaration, is the result of US intervention.
Referring to confidence building measures and in particular to Varosha, he pointed out that the timeframe of when it could be returned is pivotal. He explained that there are a lot of factors to take into account, such as reconstruction and infrastructure work, which take time.
Previous UN-backed efforts to reunify the island have failed. Cyprus talks resumed, under UN auspices, in February, following an agreement on a joint declaration by the leaders of the island’s two communities, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.
The two leaders are set to meet at the end of March while the negotiators of the two sides, who held meetings in Ankara and Athens, meet usually twice a week at the UN Protected Area in Nicosia.
