The appointment of Commissioner Raffaele Fito as the European Union’s Special Representative for the Cyprus Issue creates a new situation and strengthens the European Union’s role both in theresuming negotiations as in ensuring that any potential solution is fully compatible with the European acquis, the Deputy Government Spokesperson stated.
Speaking on state radio, Yiannis Antoniou also referred to the meeting that the President of the Republic will have with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Paris, where he is attending the Bastille Day celebrations.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
As he noted, the meeting will address developments in the Cyprus issue, Cyprus’s progress toward joining the Schengen Area, EU-Turkey relations, and regional developments.
Mr. Antoniou noted that Turkey is seeking progress on issues such as the customs union, visa liberalization, and the utilization of European financial instruments—a fact which, he said, creates opportunities for the European Union to take advantage of.
Regarding the upcoming informal enlarged meeting on the Cyprus issue, Yiannis Antoniou stated that the government remains cautiously optimistic, despite the fact that there has been no change in Turkey’s stance so far.
No Conflict of Interest Seen for Paschalidis
Regarding the reappointment of Andreas Paschalidis as chairman of the Independent Authority for the Investigation of Complaints Against the Police, the Deputy Government Spokesperson rejected claims of a conflict of interest stemming from his appointment as a criminal investigator in the “Video Gate” case.
He said that the two roles are institutionally distinct and noted that the investigator should be allowed to complete his work without interference.
Source: riknews
