Opening accession negotiations with Turkey implies that Turkey recognizes the Republic of Cyprus, European Parliament President Josep Borrell stressed in Nicosia Tuesday.

Borrell made the remarks while addressing the Cypriot House of Representatives on the occasion of his official visit, in the presence of Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and President of the House of Representatives Demetris Christofias.

Borrell noted that the recognition of Cyprus is a necessary component of the accession process, adding that the solution of the Cyprus problem must be based on respect for the acquis communautaire and on the union's founding values and principles.

The division of Cyprus is "an open sore for Europe, a wound which we all need to strive valiantly to heal as soon and as fully as possible," he said, adding that "the division is not acceptable,it is anachronistic."

Borrell expressed his disappointment for the rejection of the plan proposed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan by the Greek Cypriots "though the will of the people must be respected".

He, meanwhile, noted that in a revised form, the Annan plan could offer a starting-point for a solution that would be acceptable to all, but "the only way to reach that point is via direct negotiations between the leaders of both communities and there is no reason to delay this any further."

For his part, Christofias said that Cyprus has shown every good will for Turkey's EU course, since it believes that the accession of a democratic Turkey to the union would contribute to the consolidation of peace and stability in the area, provided that Turkey respects and fulfills the political criteria and the EU principles.

Cyprus, which has remained divided since 1974, joined the EU in May, 2004 without Turkish Cypriots in the north because the two communities of the island failed to agree on the UN-proposed unification plan.

Voters of the Greek Cypriots in the south rejected the plan while the Turkish Cypriots community in the north backed it.

Source: Xinhua