The Republic of Cyprus has succeeded in adding a specific phrase in the final text of the EU Summit conclusions, which binds Turkey to comply with the visa liberalization benchmarks, towards all member states of the EU, without discrimination, as a prerequisite for any further decision on visa liberalization.

According to diplomatic sources, the addition came as a result of the Cypriot President`s intervention at the Council and a series of meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines of the Summit. The additional phrase is now final and will not change, diplomats said.

The phrase says that the EU calls upon Turkey to make further progress on the full range of commitments, vis a vis all member states, contained in the the EU – Turkey statement, including as regards to visa liberalization.