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9/17/06

Mainichi Daily News: Greece says Turkey's route to EU membership must pass through a united Cyprus


For the complete report in the Mainichi Daily News click on this link

Greece says Turkey's route to EU membership must pass through a united Cyprus

UNITED NATIONS -- Greece wants Turkey to become a full-fledged European democracy, but Ankara must recognize a reunified Cyprus if it wants to become a member of the European Union, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said. Like all other countries seeking to join the 25-nation EU, she said, Turkey must meet the conditions for membership which include respect for human rights and religious freedom, good neighborly relations and a free customs union.

"It came as a surprise to many people that Greece's foreign policy was so clear about supporting Turkey's European aspirations," Bakoyannis said in an interview Saturday. "The truth is that for us it's vital to have a European Turkey on our borders, a European democracy on our borders, and this is the reason that we are very clearly and very openly supporting it." But she cautioned that this did not mean "unconditional support."

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