Press Releases, Statements, Notes/Articles and Letters INITIATIVE BY TURKEY ON CYPRUS, 24 JANUARY 2006 Cyprus a reminder CYPRUS: WHAT HAS HAPPENED? Highlights of the UNSG´s report Cyprus (Historical Overview) What the World Said Before the Referanda What the World said After the Referanda The Annan Plan and the Greek Cypriot “NO”: False Reasons and Claims Greek Cypriot state terror revealed Confidence Building Measures (1992-1994) Meaningful Anniversary Of The Cyprus Peace Operation Turkish Parliament Proclaims Solidarity With TRNC And Demands Equal Treatment For The Two States On The Island Resolution By The Turkish Grand National Assembly On 21 January 1997 Circular Note Sent To The Embassies Of The EU Member States Concerning The Greek Cypriot Application To The EU, 30 June 1997 Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on the establishment of an Association Council Resolution Adopted By The Legislative Assembly of The TRNC March 9, 1998 Aide-Memoire By The TRNC To The British High Commission In Nicosia, 26 March 1998 Documents Given By President Denktas To The UN Secretary-General During Their Meeting In Geneva- 28 March 1998 Resolution of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, 15 July 1999 Treaty Provisions And Basic Documents With Regard To The EU Membership Of Cyprus British Professor of International Law Prof. H. Mendelson Q.C.'s opinion on the legal aspects of the one-sided membership application of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus to the European Union Final communique of the annual coordination meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference ( United Nations, New York 28 September 2004, 14 Shaa'ban 1425 H - para. related to Cyprus) Report of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan on his Mission of Good Offices in Cyprus, 28 May 2004 Report of the Secretary-General Annan on the United Nations operation in in Cyprus, 3 December 2007 The Status of the Two Peoples in Cyprus Edited By Necati Münir Ertekün Greek Cypriot Attempts To Purchase Missiles From Russia And The Resulting Danger For The Peace And Stability In Cyprus EU and Cyprus:An Expert View Opinion of Professor M.H. Mendelson Q.C on the Application of “the Republic of Cyprus” to Join the European Union Grand Deception, Korkmaz HAKTANIR, Founding Member of the Cyprus Foundation '' BARBARIE A CHYPRE '' Le Soir Illustré 1967 The Need for New Perspective on Cyprus
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  5. Circular Note Sent To The Embassies Of The EU Member States Concerning The Greek Cypriot Application To The EU, 30 June 1997
Circular Note Sent To The Embassies Of The EU Member States Concerning The Greek Cypriot Application To The EU, 30 June 1997

REPUBLIC OF TURKEY
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

CIRCULAR NOTE

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its compliments to the Embassies of the Member States of the European Union and has the honour to bring to their attention the following.

As is known, on 3 July 1990 the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus has lodged an application to become a full member of the then European Community, now European Union. On March 6, 1995 the EU Council of Ministers has accepted the Greek Cypriot application and decided to start adhesion negotiations six months after the conclusion of the EU Intergovernmental Conference.

From its inception Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side have objected to this process on the ground that the Greek Cypriot Administration had no legitimate authority to make such an application on behalf of the whole of Cyprus and that in accordance with the 1959 London and Zurich Agreements and the Treaty of Guarantee of 1960, Cyprus could not apply to join or having applied, to join the EU whilst Turkey is not a member.

To further clarify this matter the Turkish government has obtained legal opinion from a leading international lawyer, Prof.Maurice Mendelson Q.C. from Great Britain, whose text is enclosed herewith. In his legal opinion, Prof.Mendelson confirms the reservations expressed by the Government of Turkey and concludes that the Greek Cypriot Administration cannot become a member of the EU before Turkey and cannot even apply to it for membership.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to draw the attention of the honorable member states of the EU that the opening of accession negotiations between the EU and the Greek Cypriot Administration, as set forth in the Resolution of 6 March 1995 of the EU Council of Ministers, will be a step in changing the parameters already agreed upon by both sides in Cyprus for a comprehensive settlement and as underlined in the Joint Declaration adopted between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of northern Cyprus on January 20, 1997, would force Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side to revise their approach towards the UN negotiating process.

At a time when the European Union successfully concluded the Intergovernmental Conference, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to call on the Member States of the European Union to give due consideration to the legal opinion prepared by Prof.Mendelson and invite them to reconsider the provisions of their resolutions of 6 March 1995 and 12 June 1995 regarding the Greek Cypriot application.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassies of the Member States of the European Union the assurances of its highest consideration.


Ankara, June 30, 1997