Cypriot President warns he won’t lift veto on Turkey’s EU talks

PanARMENIAN.Net - The President of Cyprus on Tuesday, March 15, warned he will not lift his veto on Turkish negotiations to eventually join the European Union, throwing a new complication into European efforts to strike a deal with Ankara described as crucial to ending the migration crisis, the Wall Street Journal reports

Turkey has agreed to the outline of a deal to take back migrants who reach Greece in return for several concessions from the EU, including a demand to advance the country’s bid for accession to the bloc. But political and legal questions still threaten the accord.

European Council chief Donald Tusk, who is brokering the deal, said during a visit to EU-member Cyprus that the goal is still to reach a deal during a summit of leaders on Thursday and Friday.

“But we are not there yet,” Tusk said at a news conference with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades.

Turkey wants to open up several policy areas for negotiation on its membership bid, but Anastasiades said his country will continue to block the opening of them until Ankara recognizes Cyprus as a sovereign country.

The two countries are embroiled in a long-standing frozen conflict after Turkey invaded the northern part of the country in 1974, and, nine years later, recognized the independence of that part of the island.

“It is unwarranted, counterproductive and not to mention unacceptable to shift burden of responsibility for migration crisis on my shoulders or on the shoulders of the Republic of Cyprus,” Anastasiades said.

He noted that reunification talks are “at a critical phase” and insisted that his country isn't seeking a confrontation with Turkey.

Tusk tried to reassure the Cyprus leader, saying he didn’t go to Cyprus to exert pressure on lifting its veto and that the concerns of any of the 28 member states of the EU are more important to him than the concerns of a non-EU member.

He said that the rules of EU membership negotiations haven't changed. “The same strict conditionality applies and moving forward will still require the agreement of all 28,” Tusk said.

Tusk is headed to Ankara for talks with the Turkish prime minister ahead of the summit.