Turkey today rejected a European Parliament resolution imposing sanctions on Ankara following a recent visit by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to the occupied northern part of Cyprus, calling it “disconnected from the realities on the Cyprus issue” and “blackmail.”
The European Parliament adopted on Thursday a non-binding resolution calling on EU leaders to “take action and impose tough sanctions” on Turkey, a move that is likely to boost support for France’s bid to impose sanctions on Ankara at next month’s EU summit.
On November 15, Erdogan visited Varosha, a fenced-in area that remained a neutral zone after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.
Ankara backed the partial opening of Varosha last month, drawing criticism from the United States, Greece and Cyprus.
“Turkey will continue to resolutely protect both her own rights and those of the Turkish Cypriots, without bowing to any threat and blackmail,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
In the statement, it is mentioned that the resolution is the latest example of efforts to “take hostage” of Turkey-EU relations on the Cyprus issue.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry rejects the resolution and accuses the European Parliament of being “prejudiced and disconnected from the realities on the Cyprus issue.”
“If this approach and mentality are maintained, it would not be possible for the EU bodies to make a constructive contribution to the settlement of the Cyprus issue,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Source: ANA-MPA
