Turkish Leader Ready To Solve Cyprus Problem

by Lorys Charalambous, Tax-News.com, Cyprus

20 March 2002

According to reports in the Cyprus press, Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit told Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides in Barcelona that it it was time for the Cyprus problem to be solved.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday after his return from the European Union summit in Barcelona, Clerides said that Bulent Ecevit had approached him and extended his hand for a handshake just before entering the room where the 28 leaders of the EU member-states and candidate countries were meeting.

During the brief exchange, Ecevit said that “it is time for the Cyprus problem to be solved,” Clerides said.

Clerides declined to comment on the gesture, adding that it was normal for two leaders to shake hands when they met at such meetings. “If I got close to him first I would have extended my hand to him as he did, because it is not agreeable for Europe when state leaders meet and do not at least shake hands,” the President said.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who is currently President of the European Council, had invited President Clerides to attend the Barcelona Summit together with leaders of the other applicant nations.

On a brief stopover in Cyprus two weeks ago Mr Aznar had told Clerides of his personal determination, as well as the Union’s, to meet all accession time frames as promised.

“The 15 agree that talks on enlargement and decisions should be made before the end of the year. The EU remains committed to the Helsinki decision that calls for Cyprus to join even if a settlement to the island’s 28-year division is not reached by then,”
Aznar said.

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