Duff considers Turkey's signature of Ankara accord an important step towards Cyprus settlement

6.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 28th Jul 2005

Anticipating Turkey's signature of the Ankara protocol this Friday, Andrew Duff MEP, ALDE vice-chairman of the European Parliament's joint committee with Turkey issued the following statement:

"Turkey's signature of the Ankara agreement will remove an important obstacle to the opening of accession negotiations on 3 October. Turkey has shown good faith, and it is now up to others to reciprocate. Turkish accession is a long-term goal for Turkey and the Union, and, if achieved, will prove to be of great strategic benefit to both parties."

"The extension of Turkey's customs association with the EU to include the new member states changes the context for Cyprus. We now look to the government of the Republic of Cyprus to begin to acknowledge its moral and political responsibilities towards the Turkish Cypriot community."

"Direct trade must be opened up between North Cyprus and the rest of the Union through North Cypriot ports and airports. In order to facilitate this Turkey should agree to open up its ports to Greek Cypriot ships. "

"Negotiations based on the Annan Plan could then get going again and the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, involving territory, security, property and constitutional arrangements can resume. Free trade, however, is the unconditional first step."

ENDS/…