Greek Cyprus agrees to open Turkey’s EU chapters: report

ANKARA / BRUSSELS - Hürriyet

French President Sarkozy (R) salutes Greek Cyprus President Christofias and German Chancellor Merkel. AFP photo

Greek Cyprus has agreed to remove the veto on two chapters of Turkey’ EU negotiations, EU sources have said.

Greek Cyprus froze Turkey’s EU negotiation chapters unilaterally on December 2009, but has agreed to open two chapters, “Judiciary and Basic Rights” and “Justice, Freedom and Security,” daily Hürriyet reported March 6. Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozaku Markulli told Brussels “they [were] not against opening of two chapters with Turkey.”

The EU sources said that no official information had been given to Ankara on the agreement, and that the preparations for opening these chapters would be done when Denmark takes on the term-presidency of the EU on July 2012. As soon as it has received approval for these chapters, Ankara will be informed, the sources said. 

Officials added that Greek Cyprus had approved the “positive agenda” meetings with Turkey, and had given authority to the EU Commission on this issue. With this approval, as many as “eight chapters” might be opened. 

An official from Turkish Foreign Ministry told Hürriyet Daily News yesterday that they had not received any notice from Brussels on the possibility of opening these chapters. Diplomatic sources suggested that these were merely “tactical approaches” and far from showing “good intentions.”