Greek Cyprus says cannot consent to lifting veto on Turkey EU chapters

ATHENS – Reuters

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Greek Cyprus said Oct. 19 that it would not consent to lifting its objections to Turkish accession negotiations with the European Union, saying the reasons it blocked them were still valid. 

"As things presently stand, we cannot give our consent," Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides told Greek state broadcaster NET. He referred specifically to two chapters, or policy areas in accession negotiations, pertaining to judiciary and fundamental rights, and justice, freedom and security. 

On Oct. 18, German Chancellor who visited Turkey, said in a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu that she would talk about Turkey’s demands linked to the accession to the EU to the other members of the bloc, particularly mentioning the name of Greek Cyprus.

The island of Cyprus was split in a Turkish intervention in 1974 triggered by a brief Greek inspired coup.