Turkey not to have direct contact with Greek Cypriot administration

SAKARYA (A.A) - 15.12.2011 - The president of the Parliament Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said on Thursday that Turkey would not have direct contact with the Greek Cypriot adminstration. Mevlut Cavusoglu commented on Greek Cypriot administration's rotating presidency of the European Union (EU) in July 2012, and said Turkey would not have a direct contact with the Greek Cypriot administration, which it did not recognize. "Turkey will naturally maintain its relations with other EU institution, however it will not be a direct interlocutor of the Greek Cypriot administration when it has to carry out relations with the rotating presidency," Cavusoglu told AA correspondent in Sakarya. Cavusoglu hoped Cyprus problem would be solved, and said the EU admitted the Greek Cypriot administration before settlement of the Cyprus problem. "It has now understood that it was a mistake, and we expect the EU to take compensatory steps and at least end restrictions and lift embargoes on TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus)," Cavusoglu said. Cavusoglu hoped to see positive developments in Cyprus in coming days. Moreover, Cavusoglu said most of EU members supported Turkey's EU bid, and only a few members did not want Turkey's membership. Cavusoglu said Turkey was successfully carrying out its membership process, and hoped Turkey would make great progress with a new constitution and some more judicial reforms.   "Turkey's stance on Cyprus problem is certain, and it trying to solve the problem. On the other hand, unfortunately during election times, we hear remarks against Turkey's membership in these (EU) countries, which causes fragility in Turkey," Cavusoglu said. Cavusoglu said he did not think that EU would dissolve, but what was important was Turkey's aim. "The aim is not to make economical use of EU, but a democratization and modernization process," Cavusoglu said. The PACE president also said Turkish citizens would decide whether or not to join the union when the time came.