Cypriot MEPs, Loucas Fourlas (EPP) and Costas Mavrides (S&D), have explained the reasons of their abstention from voting on the EP report on Turkey.
Invited by CNA to comment on the report, Fourlas identified several gaps in the report on Turkey, adding that he could not vote in favour of a report that encourages the upgrading of the EU-Turkey customs union, classifies Kurds as terrorists and praises Turkey on the issue of immigration.
As far as Cyprus is concerned, Fourlas noted that after intensive efforts through the EPP, a very clear reference to Varosha and the illegal opening of the fenced-off city has been included.
On his part, Mavrides stated that key references were not included in the report on Turkey. In particular, the Social Democrat MEP stressed that on his initiative a reference on the withdrawal of the Turkish troops from Cyprus was adopted, while other crucial references were not included in the text, such as the ban on arms sales by the EU member states to Turkey and the imposition of sanctions.
Regarding EU-Turkey trade relations, Mavrides said that the report “encourages the upgrading of the Customs Union Agreement with the fulfilment of the existing obligations towards Cyprus, which Turkey refuses to fulfil since 2005, and therefore the Agreement should have been revoked”.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.
Source: Cyprus News Agency