AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou statements on the Commission’s Turkey Progress report
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 30th May 2019, Nicosia
Turkey’s recent serious provocative actions within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus are adding to the obstruction of the ENI Company’s drilling program and are further escalating the tension in the region, something which is also reflected in the Commission’s Report. Faced with such serious provocative actions, we naturally expect an effective response from Cyprus’ European partners. This is reflected on a rhetorical level in the Report. We now await to see how the EU will respond appropriately and in full solidarity with Cyprus, as the Commission had stated last March and reiterates in its Report.
One of the measures that could be taken is the termination of the discussion for the upgrading of the EU-Turkey Customs Union. The Report states that this upgrading at this stage is not expected to proceed, but for reasons unrelated to Turkey’s provocative actions in the Cypriot EEZ.
As far as the Cyprus problem is concerned, the Report notes that the Commission expects Turkey to actively support the talks within the framework of the UN in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded. It is also noted that Turkey welcomed the renewed efforts of the United Nations to consult stakeholders as to a possible resumption of the negotiations.
All of this is positive, but no responsibility whatsoever is assigned on Turkey for the prolonged stalemate. On the contrary, reference is made to Turkey’s continued commitment and practical contribution to the negotiations for a just, comprehensive and viable solution of the Cyprus problem within the framework of the United Nations. The reference to the importance of protecting the progress that has been recorded so far sends out a message with many recipients.
Finally, we note that the Report confirms that Turkey’s European course at this stage is at a standstill. AKEL’s position remains that it is in the interest of Cyprus that Turkey’s European perspective is not terminated because this is an incentive for a solution to the Cyprus problem. Stressing of course, of course, that Turkey’s compliance with its Cyprus-related obligations constitutes a prerequisite for this course to continue, the importance of which the Commission itself points out.
