EU foreign policy chief may boycott Syria meeting in Turkey over Cyprus

PanARMENIAN.Net - EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is mulling whether to boycott the Friends of Syria meeting on April 1 in Istanbul due to Turkey’s refusal to invite Greek Cyprus to the key meeting, Hürriyet Daily News reported.

“Ashton is unlikely to be in Istanbul due to Ankara’s decision,” an EU diplomat told the HDN. “Instead, her deputy, Pierre Vimont, will represent the European External Action Service.”

Ashton’s office said they were not in a position to confirm that she would be in Istanbul on April 1.

According to diplomatic sources, Ashton tried hard to convince Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu to secure Greek Cyprus’ participation in the meeting alongside other EU countries, but she could not obtain a positive response in their last phone conversation March 27.

The diplomat said talks between Ankara and Brussels that aimed to change the other’s mind were continuing, but there was little room for each side to back down from their positions.