It is wrong for the European Council to engage in an anatolian-style bazaar, imposed by Turkey, House President Yiannakis Omirou has said on Sunday. He warned that European institutions, prone to go against their own decisions, will lose credibility.
The House President was commenting on the forthcoming visit of European Council President Donald Tusk to Cyprus, this Tuesday, over which he expressed surprise.
Omirou said that the visit apparently takes place in the framework of Turkish demands for the opening of EU accession negotiation chapters, which Nicosia has blocked in response to Ankara`s refusal to comply with obligations, deriving from the negotiating framework and the EU counter-declaration of 2005.
Speaking in the southwester city of Paphos, Omirou further urged the European Council to categorically reject Turkish demands, which, he said, are in no way related to the handling of the refugee crisis.
The European Council ought to safeguard its authority and credibility, as well as its own decisions, the House President went on.
When Turkey refuses to comply, the European Council can not exert pressure on the Republic of Cyprus in order to violate own decisions, he concluded.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Turkey, which aspires to join the EU does not recognize Cyprus, an EU member since 2004 and has failed so far to fulfill EU obligations.
Turkey commenced accession talks with the EU in October 2005, a year later however the bloc froze eight chapters over Ankara`s refusal to open its ports and airports to Cyprus` vessels.
Moreover, out of the 35 chapters Turkey must conclude as part of its accession negotiations, Cyprus has unilaterally frozen six, while additional chapters remain blocked by France.