Danish FM Favors United Cyprus Membership in EU

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 03, 2002

Danish FM Favors United Cyprus Membership in EU

Visiting Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller said in Ankara on Monday that Denmark, as the European Union(EU) term president, is in favor of a united Cyprus's membership inthe European Union.

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Visiting Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller said in Ankara on Monday that Denmark, as the European Union(EU) term president, is in favor of a united Cyprus's membership inthe European Union.

Moller said following his meeting with his Turkish counterpart Yasar Yakis that he came to Ankara to assess the developments concerning the reform package conducted by Turkey to meet the EU demand.

Noting that the package was beneficial to the Turkish people rather than the European bloc, Moller reiterated that the fulfillment of Copenhagen criteria was very important in Turkey's bid to join the Europeau Union.

Regarding the Cyprus issue, Moller said the problem should be solved by making good use of the historical opportunity ushered in by the UN-proposed Cyprus plan on reunifying the divided eastern Mediterranean island.

He also appealed to all sides concerned to contribute to the UN plan, saying they believed this plan was good for the Turkish Cypriot people and Turkey as well.

Moller noted that he would hold similar contacts in Greece afterTurkey.

Cyprus has been divided into the Greek Cypriot-administered south and Turkish Cypriot-controlled north since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the northern one-third of Cyprus in thewake of a failed coup seeking union with Athens.

The leaders of the two sides have been engaged in direct talks under the UN auspices since the beginning of this year, but failed to yield any results.

The European Union has agreed to allow Cyprus to enter the bloc by 2004 and is expected to finalize the issue at the Copenhagen Summit on Dec. 12.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan initiated the UN proposal in an attempt to convince the two sides of Cyprus to join the European Union in the form of a unified state.

But the two sides are yet to give their replies to the United Nations.

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