Cyprus satisfied with EU statement on Turkey
The Cypriot government on Wednesday expressed satisfaction with an agreement reached in Brussels on the content of the EU counterstatement to the Turkish unilateral declaration of non-recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.
Government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said the importance of the counterstatement must not be underestimated.
Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos also expressed satisfaction late Tuesday evening with the counterstatement, which will pave the way for the start of accession talks with Ankara on Oct. 3.
Speaking to reporters at Larnaca Airport upon his return from New York, where he addressed the UN General Assembly, Papadopoulos said that main aims of Cyprus concerning the counterstatement have been fulfilled.
The agreement between EU member Cyprus, which insists that Turkey recognize its government ahead of the membership talks, and Britain, the current EU presidency, was tabled early on Wednesday at a meeting of the 25 EU ambassadors.
"It seems that today we reached a satisfactory conclusion," Chrysostomides told the press.
