Though the government on Tuesday expressed its satisfaction with the outcome of the EU-Turkey summit, political parties on the island said Ankara’s demands to speed up its accession in return for help with stemming the flow of migrants showed it was unreliable as a partner.
The parties also called on President Nicos Anastasiades not to give in to pressure in Europe to open negotiating chapters for Turkey that had been frozen by Cyprus until Ankara met its obligation to normalise relations with the Republic. The proposals put forward by Turkey to EU leaders are to be re-examined next week.
Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said earlier on Tuesday that Anastasiades was satisfied with the outcome of the summit, and with the meetings he held on the sidelines.
“With regard to Turkey’s demand for the opening of chapters that have unilaterally been frozen by the Republic of Cyprus, and citing its role in tackling with the humanitarian crisis, which mainly afflicts Greece, the President of the Republic remained firm in the position held by the Republic of Cyprus over the years that the opening of any chapters requires the fulfillment by Turkey of its obligations, as these derive from its negotiating framework,” the spokesman said, referring to Ankara’s failure to normalise relations with Cyprus.
Christodoulides also referred to “the understanding and support” Cyprus’ EU partners had shown for the arguments put forward by the Republic.
Opposition DIKO responded to the developments by saying the demands put forward by Ankara showed yet again that Turkey was an unreliable partner. “It does not intend to stick to European principles and values. Turkey is trying to use a purely humanitarian issue to receive political and economic benefits,” the party said.
EDEK said it hoped the Cyprus government would not “succumb to any pressure” while the Citizens Alliance went a step further, saying the “good child” policies of Anastasiades would backfire and end in him making concessions.
The Greens said the Turkish demands were “excessive and unacceptable. “We urge the government to stand firm,” the party said.
Opposition AKEL said there was no way chapters could be opened without Turkey normalising relations with Cyprus, a view that was echoed by ruling DISY. The latter said Cyprus had the strong support of Greece and other EU partners when it came to Turkey fulfilling its obligations to the bloc.
