BackStatement by the President of the Republic
Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos on the decisions taken at the European Council in Brussels
16-17 December 2004
19
December, 2004
A lot has been said and many analyses have been made by political parties and personalities concerning the Council of Heads of State or Government, which took place in Brussels last Thursday and Friday 16 and 17 December 2004.
The people of Cyprus have a right to know also my personal views and evaluation and I, on my part, have a duty to brief them.
The Cyprus issue was not the question under discussion, neither the solution to the problem, nor the prerequisites for a solution.
As you know, following long, arduous and hard negotiations, the European Council decided unanimously to give a date for the start of Turkey's accession negotiations with the EU. We have supported this decision.
We have supported the European prospect of Turkey, in accordance with our firm policy followed over the years, provided that she would fully meet her obligations towards the EU and by extension towards Cyprus.
We have supported that Turkey's duty to fulfil her obligations towards the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus is dictated by the Copenhagen Criteria and does not constitute a new political condition imposed on Turkey and does not involve direct bilateral issues.
Our position and strategy on the Cyprus problem has been discussed and agreed with the Greek Government many times, starting from last July and recently in view of the European Council last Thursday and Friday.
On this occasion, I would like once more, to express my thanks to the Prime Minister of Greece, Mr. Costas Karamanlis, Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis and in general the Government and the diplomatic service of Greece for their warm and unwavering support throughout this coordinated effort and in particular the strong and decisive intervention of the Greek Prime Minister in these crucial and intensive negotiations during the two days of the European Council
Also I wish to thank the leaders of political parties of Cyprus who, through their participation in the corresponding European parties, have promoted our positions quite resolutely.
In general, I am satisfied with the outcome. We have taken an important first and positive step. Of course we sought to achieve more. However, we have achieved what was feasible under the specific circumstances.
The decision of the European Council incorporates Turkey's commitment to sign the Protocol for the expansion of the Customs Union, so as to apply also in respect of the Republic of Cyprus before October 3, 2005.
First, this commitment is included in the Conclusions and not in an accompanying text and has exactly the same weight and importance as the other provisions of the Conclusions.
Second, and perhaps more important, is the fact that it is a necessary prerequisite that Turkey has to fulfil before the start of accession negotiations on October 3, 2005.
In the long and intensive consultations I had with the leaders of all the more powerful countries of the European Union, before the decision of the European Council, I had made it clear that unless Turkey signs and implements by October 3, 2005 the Customs Union Protocol, the Republic of Cyprus is entitled not to give its consent for the start of Turkey's accession negotiations with the European Union.
I have made this warning and stated this policy position in the most formal
way at the closing session of the plenary meeting of the European Council and I
asked to be recorded in the minutes.
I wish to point out that the battle Turkey gave to avoid this commitment shows its particular importance. The Protocol does not constitute a simple procedural multilateral agreement. It covers a wide range of issues, such as the movement of people and goods, agriculture, all kinds of transport and many other issues.
The Conclusions of the European Council include a series of important provisions regarding Turkey's obligation to respect human rights and regarding its relations with neighbouring countries, something that concerns not only Greece but also Cyprus.
Finally, the decision gives every EU member-state the power to continuously monitor Turkey's compliance with all her obligations emanating from her relationship with the EU and all the provisions of the Conclusions of the Council.
In the agonizing moments we passed through, in all these long consultations on the final text, I did not exclude the possibility of exercising the right to veto and discussed this possibility with the Prime Minister of Greece and Cypriot party leaders. Exercising the right to veto was of course an option. However, I decided that since our final objective is to reach an agreed functional solution of the Cyprus problem, exercising the right to veto, would not promote a solution to the Cyprus problem, but in the final analysis would give a pretext to Turkey to continue her policy of consolidating the faits accomplis of the invasion and occupation.
From the moment the people have entrusted me by their vote the responsibility to govern, my actions have only one guideline: To serve the interests of our country and our people.
This was exactly the guideline of my decisions this time too. I understand the feelings and share the reservations of a section of the people.
However, I would not be a responsible leader, if I sacrificed the interest of the people just to satisfy the popular feeling.
December 17th is not the end but the beginning of a big challenge and a course full of possibilities and opportunities, in which the Republic of Cyprus has both a role and a say. The European prospect of Turkey will be determined also by our own decision.
We are ready and determined to rise to this great challenge and to utilize the possibilities and opportunities.
With unity and a collective spirit we can succeed in utilising the decisions of the European Council so as to achieve all the targets we have set.
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