French Minister urges quick solution to Cyprus problem

NICOSIA (Xinhua) -- French Minister for European Affairs Pierre Lellouche called for an early solution to the decades-old Cyprus problem on Saturday, adding Turkey's EU aspiration will be harmed if it refuses to recognize the Republic of Cyprus.

Lellouche was on an official visit to Cyprus, representing French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the inaugural ceremony of a new passenger terminal at Larnaca International Airport.

The terminal, built by French company Bouygues Batiment International for a Cypriot-French consortium, was inaugurated by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias.

The French Minister told a gathering at the ceremony that time has come for an end to the division of Cyprus, brought about by the 1974 Turkish military intervention and occupation, in response to a coup by Greek army officers.

“At a time when France and Germany are preparing to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, a symbol of the end of the cold war and the peaceful re-unification of Europe, the division of Cyprus offers to the world the lamentable sight of the last wall in Europe,” he said.

In remarks to the press after talks with his Cypriot counterpart Marcos Kyprianou, Pierre Lellouche had earlier called for an end to “this strange situation of a European Union candidate country not recognizing an EU member state”.

He was referring to the fact that Ankara refuses to implement a European Union protocol requiring it to extend recognition to all EU members, including Cyprus.

The Sarkozy government is opposing a full European membership status to Turkey and is proposing a “privileged relationship” instead.

Turkey's accession negotiations progress will be evaluated by the European Council in December.

Pierre Lellouche said France, “as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and an active member of the European Union” will fully support efforts for the re-unification of Cyprus.

Talks are currently going on between the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities of Cyprus aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, but after a year of negotiations there has not been a breakthrough.

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