Vassiliou Optimistic On Cyprus's EU Accession

by Lorys Charalambous, Tax-News.com, Cyprus

06 September 2002

Speaking to the EU Observer news service this week, Cyprus's Chief Negotiator to the EU, George Vassiliou announced that he is confident that the progress made by the jurisdiction in preparation for accession to the European Union will ensure a positive report from the EC next month.

In an interview with the online news service, Mr Vassiliou explained that: 'It is clear that the Commission, on the basis of the work that we have done, has prepared a positive report; positive in the sense that Cyprus will be one of the countries that in the Copenhagen summit will be proposed to be accepted in the next EU enlargement.'

He added that: 'The report is certainly not final, but it is very close to becoming final.'

An extraordinary session of parliament has been arranged for 12 September in order to pass the many new and amended laws and regulations which have been submitted over the summer.

Mr Vassiliou told the EU Observer that during recent discussions with Enlargement Commissioner, Gunter Verheugen, the issue of the continued division of the Island was addressed. Here, however, the news is not so good, as he explained:

'Unfortunately I cannot report any significant progress. The position that the Turkish Cypriot side is continuing to support is a position that does not fit with the European Union. They still talk about two independent states. The EU wants one Cyprus, one voice with the ability to speak and the ability to implement EU laws in the whole territory of Cyprus. Up till now, there has been no willingness from the Turkish side to accept this very basic fact.'

Although a resolution to the dispute is not a precondition to Cyprus's EU entry, the Turkish authorities have threatened to annex the Northern part of the Island in retaliation if only the Greek Cypriot sector accedes to the EU.

A meeting is scheduled to take place between UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, the Greek Cypriot President, Glafcos Clerides, and the Turkish Cypriot chief, Rauf Denktash today in Paris.

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