The Government Spokesman Mr Stefanos
Stefanou, invited by journalists to comment on press reports about the freezing
of three more chapters in Turkey's EU accession negotiations, noted the
following: "Firstly we must say, in order to clarify things, that eight chapters
have been frozen, which essentially have to do with Turkey's non-compliance with
the implementation of its obligations, emanating from the Additional Protocol of
the Ankara Agreement. These chapters have been frozen and will not open unless
Turkey complies with its obligations. From then on, a discussion is going on
about the remaining chapters, in turn, and deliberations are also being held at
the intergovernmental and technocratic levels as well as at other levels. From
what I am aware of so far, at the technocratic level, namely at the level of
Permanent Representatives, there is a review on the opening of two chapters
regarding company law and copyright. The decision on whether or not to open up
discussions on those chapters will be made next week. The Cyprus Republic's
position is well known: by examining each issue separately, it decides and acts
accordingly, on the basis of its own interests and taking into account its
particular problem with Turkey. This is the information I have at present."
