Greek Cyprus Sets out Conditions For Turkey’s EU Bid

Marios Karoyan, a Spokesman for the Greek Cypriot leader, Tasos Papadopulous, and Kypros Khrisostomidis, a spokesman for the Greek Cypriot government, said that if Turkey does not fulfill the Greek Cypriot’s conditions with the same thoroughness as it has the conditions for other EU countries, Greek Cyprus would exercise their veto.

Khrisostomidis clarified that the Greek Cypriot government does not want to prevent the start of negotiations; however, Ankara still has some unfulfilled obligations. "We believe that unless Turkey recognizes one of the 25 EU members, it can not negotiate separately".

Dennis MacShane, the British Minister of European Affairs, went to Cyprus on an official visit yesterday and said that he was pleased to learn that the Greek authorities will not "use its veto power against Turkey, and therefore prevent the start of negotiations in December".

Karoyan and Khrisostomidis responded to MacShane’s comment and clarified the position of Greek Cyprus: "The Greek Administration does not want to veto the start of negotiations with Turkey; however, if our conditions are not met, we ‘reserve the right of veto power’."