"Turkey has obligation to recognise Cyprus
By Sofia Kannas
TURKEY has an obligation to recognise the Republic of Cyprus, President Tassos Papadopoulos said yesterday.
The government wants Turkey to recognise the Republic before December 17, when Ankara hopes to secure a date for the start of accession negotiations with the EU.
Papadopoulos said Cyprus was "trying to persuade" the European Union that recognition of all 10 new member states should be a condition demanded by the acquis communautaire.
The President said Ankara had to recognise Cyprus in the long term and not just in the run up to the December 17 summit.
"It doesn't make sense for Turkey to recognise us only momentarily, in other words in order for us to vote in favour of the start of accession negotiations, yet prior to this and afterwards we will no longer exist," he said."
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