"We ask for Serbia what we ask for ourselves"

The Cypriot ambassador says his country finds Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence unacceptable. Homer Mavromatis told the daily Vecernje Novosti in an interview published on Sunday that any change in the status of the province must come as a result of negotiations by the interested parties. "We ask for Serbia what we ask for ourselves" "This is the principle based on international law. What we ask for ourselves, we ask for Serbia," the Cypriot diplomat said. Asked whether his country finds itself under pressure from the EU because of its stance over Kosovo, Mavrovmatis said that Nicosia's position was well known to all, and that there had been no pressure. "Recognizing Kosovo is one of the issues that the EU cannot reach unity on," he told the newspaper. Asked if Serbia could face pressure to change the position on Kosovo, the ambassador said, "such pressure could not come from Cyprus". As for Serbia's accession to the union, the diplomat said he expected it to continue. "Right now there is the process of the SAA ratification in Serbia. I hope it will come into force from the EU side as well. At the same time, we are negotiating cancellation of visas, which is very important for the Serbian citizens. The EU has set aside funds for Serbia's development and harmonization with the union," Mavromatis explained. He also commented on the talks to unite Cyprus by saying that the parameters for this had been set a long time ago, detailing a bi-zonal federation, where the Greek and Turkish communities would be partners inside the state. But Mavromatis mentioned Turkey as the main obstacle for such a solution, since this country still has troops in the north of Cyprus, while some 140,000 Turks have moved to the island.

"We ask for Serbia what we ask for ourselves"

"This is the principle based on international law. What we ask for ourselves, we ask for Serbia," the Cypriot diplomat said.

Asked whether his country finds itself under pressure from the EU because of its stance over Kosovo, Mavrovmatis said that Nicosia's position was well known to all, and that there had been no pressure.

"Recognizing Kosovo is one of the issues that the EU cannot reach unity on," he told the newspaper.

Asked if Serbia could face pressure to change the position on Kosovo, the ambassador said, "such pressure could not come from Cyprus".

As for Serbia's accession to the union, the diplomat said he expected it to continue.

"Right now there is the process of the SAA ratification in Serbia. I hope it will come into force from the EU side as well. At the same time, we are negotiating cancellation of visas, which is very important for the Serbian citizens. The EU has set aside funds for Serbia's development and harmonization with the union," Mavromatis explained.

He also commented on the talks to unite Cyprus by saying that the parameters for this had been set a long time ago, detailing a bi-zonal federation, where the Greek and Turkish communities would be partners inside the state.

But Mavromatis mentioned Turkey as the main obstacle for such a solution, since this country still has troops in the north of Cyprus, while some 140,000 Turks have moved to the island.