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1. Statements by the President of the Republic “The two sides maintain their positions on issues of principle", the President of the Republic Mr Demetris Christofias said yesterday adding that at the talks with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Mehmet Ali Talat they started the discussion on the property issue. Returning to the Presidential Palace from Nicosia Airport, where he held talks with Mr Talat in the framework of the direct negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem, President Christofias, asked by the press if the discussion on the property issue had started, replied affirmatively and added: “We discussed on the leaders’ level, at a tête-à-tête session, a lot. We decided that the two sides maintain their positions on issues of principle, as each side considers them, but we have authorized the Teams, our aids to study some criteria, on the issue under discussion. ”There will not be a discussion next week; preparation must be made. At next week’s meeting we will resume the discussion on the issue of the competencies of the central Government and the regional Governments, and on the issue of foreign policy”, he added. Asked if the Turkish Cypriot side continues to believe that there is a right to property, President Christofias replied: Of course. This is already stated, and it is not questioned by Mr Talat or us, even more so by us. He added that this position is respected and it is a common position between the two sides. “Besides”, he said, “this was basically the only common position of the two sides on the issue of ownership, that the owners are acknowledged as owners. From thereon, how they approach this ownership, how the owners are vindicated there are different views. We give priority to the owner, whereas they give priority to the person who uses the property” Replying to another question, the President of the Republic said that they will come back to the issue of property in ten days. 2. Foreign Minister Kyprianou meets Italian counterpart The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Markos Kyprianou had a meeting yesterday in Rome with his Italian counterpart Mr Franco Frattini, with whom he discussed recent developments in the ongoing peace efforts in Cyprus and prospects for Turkey’s EU membership bid. After the meeting the two Ministers made statements to the press. The Italian Foreign Minister pointed out that “Italy and Cyprus have a common vision of the Euro-Mediterranean dimension”. Regarding the Cyprus problem, he said his Cypriot counterpart had briefed him on the latest developments in the dialogue between President Christofias and the T/C leader, which “unfortunately have not yet led to the solution we have been hoping for”. As regards Turkey’s European course, the Italian FM said “Italy considers that the door of the EU must remain open for Turkey but it is obvious that Turkey must fulfil all the obligations foreseen by the Copenhagen criteria”. He added: “There are no double standards and each candidate country must fulfil all its obligations. This, as well as other issues, must be discussed in a European spirit. This European spirit is absolutely necessary because, as you know, there are different sentiments towards Turkey in Europe. France, for instance, does not have the same approach as Italy concerning Turkey’s accession. My opinion, however, remains that the door must stay open for Turkey and Turkey must understand that there are obligations and these obligations must be respected. I informed my colleague and friend Markos Kyprianou that in mid-November I will accompany President Giorgio Napolitano in his visit to Turkey. It will be a very important opportunity to discuss this issue with the Turkish leadership”. For his part, the Cypriot Foreign Minister Mr Kyprianou said he and his Italian counterpart had discussed, inter alia, the upcoming European Council in December and especially the decisions to be made regarding Turkey. “Cyprus accepts Turkey as an EU member state but we need a European Turkey not just Turkey in Europe, something that means Turkey must fulfil all the conditions and obligations fulfilled by all the other candidate countries”, Mr Kyprianou noted. He added: “Unfortunately Turkey has not yet fulfilled the obligations it undertook, those concerning Cyprus at least, as they were defined at the European Council of 2005. After all these years and if no improvement or progress is achieved by December, we believe that it cannot be business as usual. This is the position of Cyprus. If a country refuses to conform there must be consequences. But this will be discussed with my counterparts since this is a European matter on which Europe must decide.” Furthermore, Mr Kyprianou praised bilateral relations and said Cyprus and Italy cooperated well on issues concerning the Mediterranean and immigration. “There is a convergence of views vis-a-vis these matters, on which our policy is coordinated”, he asserted. 3. Olli Rehn: A comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem would facilitate better progress in Turkey’s EU accession negotiation The European Policy Centre organised on 22 October 2009 a policy dialogue entitled “EU enlargement: progress and prospects”, during which the European Commissioner for Enlargement Mr Olli Rehn, was the keynote speaker. After his speech, Mr Rehn replied to questions. Replying to a question on the consequences of a possible solution of the Cyprus problem on Turkey's EU accession course, Mr Rehn said: «From the Turkish point of view and from the point of view of the EU accession process it would be very important to see a comprehensive settlement on the Cyprus problem and see the reunification of the island. That is important for Cyprus and both the Cypriot communities, it is important for the EU and it is important also for Turkey because, of course, this would facilitate better progress in the EU accession negotiation. You know well that due to the non-compliance of Turkey in relation to the Additional Protocol of the Ankara Agreement, the EU decided in December 2006 to suspend eight chapters. Therefore, the best way of having a positive impact on the opening of chapters and contributing as a confidence building measure to a comprehensive settlement on Cyprus, will be to start implementing the Ankara Protocol. That is my cordial and friendly advice to the Turkish Government».
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