Cyprus may use EU veto against Turkey
by Agency Staff,
2016-03-18 07:19:50.0
CYPRUS could use its veto to block an accord between Turkey and the European Union (EU) to stem the migrant crisis if Ankara did not open its ports and airports to the island, the country said on Thursday.
In Brussels, EU leaders are struggling to reach an accord with Turkey on how to stop a human tide of migrants and refugees fleeing conflict zones for Europe. Expediting Ankara’s long-stalled EU entry talks was one of the conditions, touching a raw nerve with ethnically split Cyprus.
"Turkey has to open its harbours and airports (to Cypriot traffic) and normalise its relations with Cyprus — something that it does not do," Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said.
Mr Anastasiades heads a Greek Cypriot government that is acknowledged to represent the whole island in the EU, although effective membership stops at a cease-fire line splitting the country in two.
Northern Cyprus is a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state recognised only by Ankara, carved out of territory Turkey seized in a 1974 Turkish invasion triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup.
Cyprus has blocked discussion on a number of EU policy areas, or "chapters" Turkey must conclude, partly because Ankara has not opened its ports and airports to Cypriot traffic.
Asked if he would veto any deal that did not take Cypriot concerns into account, Mr Anastasiades said he would do so.
"Of course.... As long as Turkey doesn’t implement its obligations, we don’t have any other choice," he said.
Reuters
Picture: ISTOCK
CYPRUS could use its veto to block an accord between Turkey and the European Union (EU) to stem the migrant crisis if Ankara did not open its ports and airports to the island, the country said on Thursday.
In Brussels, EU leaders are struggling to reach an accord with Turkey on how to stop a human tide of migrants and refugees fleeing conflict zones for Europe. Expediting Ankara’s long-stalled EU entry talks was one of the conditions, touching a raw nerve with ethnically split Cyprus.
"Turkey has to open its harbours and airports (to Cypriot traffic) and normalise its relations with Cyprus — something that it does not do," Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said.
Mr Anastasiades heads a Greek Cypriot government that is acknowledged to represent the whole island in the EU, although effective membership stops at a cease-fire line splitting the country in two.
Northern Cyprus is a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state recognised only by Ankara, carved out of territory Turkey seized in a 1974 Turkish invasion triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup.
Cyprus has blocked discussion on a number of EU policy areas, or "chapters" Turkey must conclude, partly because Ankara has not opened its ports and airports to Cypriot traffic.
Asked if he would veto any deal that did not take Cypriot concerns into account, Mr Anastasiades said he would do so.
"Of course.... As long as Turkey doesn’t implement its obligations, we don’t have any other choice," he said.
Reuters
Change: -0.80%
Change: -1.03%
Change: -0.24%
Change: -1.13%
Change: -1.10%
Data supplied by Profile Data
Change: 0.13%
Change: -0.23%
Change: -0.80%
Change: 0.00%
Change: -0.09%
Data supplied by Profile Data
Change: 0.06%
Change: 0.11%
Change: 0.10%
Change: 0.15%
Change: 0.12%
Data supplied by Profile Data
Change: -0.02%
Change: -0.20%
Change: -0.13%
Change: 0.17%
Change: 0.55%
Data supplied by Profile Data