Bağış says Greek Cyprus membership in EU mistake

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey’s European Union Minister Egemen Bağış said a solution based on political equality was beneficial for the future of Turkey, as well as the security of Cyprus and Europe, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Speaking on the Bayrak TV channel of northern Cyprus, Bağış said that a solution could be reached only by the compromise by the two sides of the island, adding that it should become clear whether Cyprus talks would be concluded and a solution would be found by the end of the year.

Bağış said “it was a mistake to approve Greek Cypriot administration’s membership to the EU, and EU officials confessed that too.” “Seventy percent of Europe’s required energy resources were transported from within Turkey’s borders, and Europe did not have the chance to reach those resources without Turkey’s contribution,” Bağış said.

“Unfortunately 26 countries were not able to see how a single country put reservations on their interests,” he said. “If a solution was not found by June 2012, the party responsible would be the Greek Cypriot administration, and the whole world should know that.”

Commenting on Turkey’s relations with the EU, Bağış said Turkey “would bring a different momentum to the EU process and would not give up on the EU.”