Italian MEPs Chastise Turkey Over Cyprus

Written by Famagusta Gazette Online

MEPs from Italy have called on Turkey to withdraw its troops from Cyprus’ occupied northern areas and to comply with the Security Council resolutions on the Cyprus problem. Speaking before the European Parliament on Thursday, following the approval of the resolution on Turkey by broad majority, EP vice president Roberta Angelilli said that Turkey’s approach is inconsistent, stressing that while the country wants to join the EU, it continues to station military forces on Cypriot territory. She also described as totally unacceptable the threats by Ankara that it will freeze ties with the EU Presidency in July, when the Cyprus Republic will assume the Presidency. Angelilli also called on Ankara to carry out more reforms especially as regards the human rights and the freedom of expression.

On his part, MEP Claudio Morganti expressed his deep concern on the fact that Turkey who aspires to become a member of the EU, has not yet withdrawn its troops from Cyprus occupied areas. He noted that although the EU keeps on calling on Ankara to comply with its obligations, the Turkish government ignores these warnings. Morganti also described as regrettable the fact that the largest recipient of EIB loans outside the European Union is a country that does not respect the sovereignty of Cyprus, an EU member state.

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