Cyprus supports Croatia’s EU bid

Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos stated on Thursday that Cyprus will support Croatia‘s European course. Papadopoulos, who is paying an official visit to Croatia, met with Split-Damlatia county Prefect Ande Sanader.
Welcoming Papadopoulos, Sanader thanked the Cypriot President for all that Cyprus has done for his country. He also said that the talks Papadopoulos had in Croatia on the future cooperation between the two countries were fruitful.
Papadopoulos said that the talks he had in Croatia focused on the country’s EU course and noted that Cyprus supports Croatia‘s EU bid.
Croatia, which is in the heart of Europe, must not be left out ”and for that we will continue to provide every support,” the Cypriot President noted.
Referring to Turkey, Papadopoulos said that Ankara‘s EU bid has particular interest for Cyprus and the Cyprus problem, adding that “we support Turkey‘s EU course, provided that it will fulfill its EU obligations”.
He also said he believed that Croatia‘s EU course must not be connected in any way with that of Turkey and that every candidate country should be assessed on its own merits and value.
Regarding relations between Cyprus and Croatia, Papadopoulos said that they are good, adding that there is room for further improvement and great prospects for strengthening commercial and economic relations.
Asked by a Croat journalist whether Zagreb can count on Cyprus as supporter in its European course, Papadopoulos said ”definitely,” as long as Croatia performs its obligations towards Europe.
”You have to have a program of aligning your economic, social and democratic institutions with those of the EU. From what I know until now you are very successful in making great progress in that direction. In that respect yes you can count on our support,” he concluded.