EU ‘understands’ Cyprus’ objections to opening closed Turkey chapters

Turkey cannot ask for exchanges as part of its accession process into the European Union, government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said on Monday, after Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu demanded the opening of five chapters blocked by Cyprus.

Speaking on the sidelines of the EU-Turkey Summit on the refugee crisis in Brussels, Christodoulides said that Cyprus’ position regarding the frozen chapters of the EU-Turkey negotiations, have not changed.

“Intense negotiations are underway,” the spokesman added.

Government sources told the Cyprus News Agency, Davutoglu’s comments regarding the chapters and demands for €5 billion in funds for the refugee crisis as opposed to €3bn, along with scrapping visas for Turkish citizens until June were not greeted warmly by EU officials.

President Nicos Anastasiades has already clarified Cyprus’ stance to several EU officials including EU Council President Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister of Netherlands Mark Rutte, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and many other colleagues at the European Council, Christodoulides said.

Merkel has, according to CNA sources, shown understanding over Cyprus’ position.

The chapters “are frozen for very specific reasons and can only open if Turkey fulfils its duties stemming from the specific chapters,” Christodoulides said.

Delays on the matter stem from several behind the scenes talks and negotiations while on Monday night, a working dinner was scheduled for the EU 28 and Turkish Prime Minister Davutoglu.

The chapters, according to state broadcaster relate to energy, education, justice, foreign policy and fundamental rights.

 

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.