Today.Az » Politics » Mensur Akgun: "Armenia is better than Turkey for EU"
08 December 2006 [01:39] - Today.Az
"Though Turkey has offered to open a port and an airport, it was possible for Greeks to accept this offer. Because, according to their view point, their recognition by Turkey side is more important than opening the port and airports," said Mensur Akgun, the executive director of Turkey economic and Social Studies Foundation, one of the main specialists of Turkey in EU.

He told the APA Turkey bureau that Greeks tries to rescue from the restriction of Annan plan. "Greeks consider that they will be able to make Turkey adopt it in the period when EU membership process continues. Turkey is fair to settle this problem in the frame of EU. But Greece part of Cyprus insists to solve this problem in the frame of EU."

Mensur Akgun also said that he does not believe that Turkey will step back on Cyprus problem.

"The problem will be settled in the frame of UN. The problem will continue if EU does not lift the isolation policy applied to Northern Cyprus republic. I do not believe that Turkey will step back, though EU delays some issues in the discussions with Turkey," he said.

Mensur Akgun stressed that Cyprus problem does not detain Turkey's EU membership.

"Turkey will not be the member of EU early than 10 years. That is why EU can discuss the issues concerning Turkey's membership," he said.

Saying that Karabakh and Cyprus conflicts are alike, Akgun stressed that UN resolutions on both conflicts did not find its settlement.

"Security Council has several resolutions concerning Nagorno Karabakh conflict. No-one, even EU does not put pressure on Armenia for execution of the resolutions. It has two reasons. First, Armenia is not a country willing to be member of EU, second, EU has special sympathy to Armenia. No one can deny that Armenia is better than us for EU," he said.



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