Cyprus Wants Conditions On Turkey-EU Negotiations

Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou today confirmed that Cyprus will move to add pre-conditions to Turkey's EU accession on negotiation chapters Freedom of Movement for Workers, Judiciary and Fundamental Rights, Justice, Freedom and Security, Education and Culture, Foreign Policy, Security and Defence Policy.

"The Council has today adopted unanimously the Conclusions on Turkey, which send strong and clear messages, calling on Turkey to fulfil its obligations. However, it has not been possible to find common ground within the Council on the extent of the consequences on the accession procedure of Turkey..." said Kyprianou.

Therefore, the Republic of Cyprus has decided to proceed 'to the introduction of specific terms and preconditions on the negotiation Chapters, which are related to each one of Turkey’s obligations, as contained in the September 2005 Declaration, the Negotiation Framework and the December 2006 European Council Conclusions,' he added.

"Any progress in the negotiation of these Chapters will depend solely on Turkey, which must fulfil the terms and preconditions, which will be set. Non fulfilment of the preconditions will not allow the opening of these Chapter," said Kyprianou.

Yesterday the EU Council of foreign ministers stopped short of freezing Turkey's EU negotiations, and instead opened the chapter on Environment while accepting more pre-conditions on the opening of new chapters.