Cypriot Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis said on Monday that the government would not accept any proposal on Cyprus that would not provide for the return of Varosha to its legal inhabitants, noting that if Varosha was returned with the simultaneous opening of the Famagusta port, this did not mean that the government was stepping back from its demand for the implementation Turkey`s obligations towards the EU and the Republic of Cyprus.
Regarding the proposals of the Finnish EU presidency, Pashiardis said Turkey did not hesitate to declare its positions, it refuses to implement its obligations and has neither accepted nor rejected the ideas of the Finnish presidency, adding that the Cypriot government was not apathetically waiting for the final form of the proposal, but was in contact with the EU and the partners on the proposal and the content of the European Commission`s progress report on Turkey.
Asked about press reports that the US were drafting a proposal, Pashiardis said the government had no information on a proposal regarding Varosha and the opening of the Famagusta port.
"Our position is that we do not accept any proposal that does not provide for the return of Varosha to its legitimate inhabitants," he added.
Asked if the Finnish proposal was in line with the government`s positions, Pashiardis pointed out that it has not yet been finalised and that the government had already given its comments on the proposal and is in contact with the EU on the matter.
"We are not apathetically awaiting the final form of the proposal but we are in constant contact with the EU itself and with our partners on the form of the proposal and also the content of the expected report of the European Commission on Turkey`s accession course," he said.
Replying to questions, Pashiardis said "the segmental return of Varosha with a simultaneous full concession on our side is neither a fair compromise nor a balanced settlement," adding that if the Greek Cypriot side had to relinquish a full concession for every segment of Varosha, then the Turkish side would gain everything it is demanding.
The Government Spokesman also pointed out that Turkey must meet its obligations and fulfill the commitments it undertook in its EU accession bid.
Cyprus, which joined the EU in May 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
Turkey, a country aspiring to become an EU member state, does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus and refuses to implement the EU-Turkey Customs Union Protocol, by opening its ports and airports to Cyprus.
According to reports, the Finnish EU Presidency is working on a draft proposal, providing for the opening of the Turkish occupied port of Famagusta under EU administration for 24 months, in combination with the opening of Turkish ports to ships carrying the Cypriot flag and the transfer of the closed city to the UN.
http://www.hri.org/news/cyprus/cna/2006/06-10-16_1.cna.html
