CYPRUS: The Republic of Cyprus is in two minds about the launch of Turkish EU accession talks.
Government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said yesterday that Turkey "had to meet its commitments and toe the EU line".
Former president George Vassiliou observed that Turkey must now understand that "getting on the road to Europe means that it must start behaving like a European" and resume talks on the reunification of the island, divided since Turkey occupied the north in 1974.
After meeting president Tassos Papadopoulos, Josep Borrell, president of the European Parliament, voiced his agreement.
He stated: "Turkey, as a candidate country, must implement a programme so it can satisfy all the criteria which, from a political and economic point of view, are required by all [ member] countries. Nothing more, nothing less."
The government hopes the accession process will provide it with considerable leverage on Ankara to negotiate a federal polity acceptable to Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
The EU will have difficulty admitting Turkey as long as its army remains in Cyprus, while the Republic of Cyprus can veto negotiations at the opening and closing of every one of the 35 harmonisation chapters.
By next year, Turkey will also be compelled to open its ports and airports to vessels and aircraft from Cyprus, bestowing de facto recognition on the republic.
Turkey recognises only the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state, which is regarded by the EU as a part of the republic outside government control.
Thirty-one per cent of Greek Cypriots are optimistic.
"They say the accession process will create a positive dynamic for a settlement, while 33 per cent believe there could be a negative impact.
However, Greek Cypriots do not trust the EU: 46 per cent of them believe that the EU does not support the Greek Cypriot stance in negotiations, while 33 per cent say the EU does.