Visa issue: what again emerges as crucially important is the need for a correct solution of the Cyprus problem
Statement by Georgos Loucaides, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 6th May 2016, Nicosia
With regards the issue of the liberalization of visa requirements for Turkish citizens, AKEL underlines the following parameters as particularly important:
– The renewal of the EU-Turkey decision approved last March for the liberalization of visa requirements and the decision to accelerate this process are part of the unacceptable and deplorable agreement on tackling the refugee crisis through which International Law is being violated. It is also confirmed that the European Union is anything but acting in line with the declared principles of solidarity and humanism.
– Although the 72 criteria/benchmarks which had been set for years weren’t being met, in just a few weeks the vast majority of them were met, which raises legitimate questions and makes the need for substantive legal and technical, but also political control over Turkey’s actual ability and willingness to implement these criteria in practice imperative. We stress that the criteria which have not been met are significant.
– This development naturally causes concern. However, far from exaggerations and a misleading attempt to link this development with Turkey’s accession course, what again emerges as crucially important is the need for a correct solution of the Cyprus problem, which, inter alia, should include the very important Christofias- Talat convergence regarding the 4: 1 population ration between Greek and Turkish nationals.
Finally, we reiterate that we expect to be given an official briefing from the government about the handling it has and will make on this specific issue.
