Cyprus gives in in dispute with Turkey

The Republic of Cyprus has renounced its demands for the EU to impose sanctions against Turkey. One of the reasons it had called for sanctions was Turkey's continued refusal to open its seaports and airports to Greek Cyprus. The daily Simerini criticises the Cypriot government for backing down: "Turkey emerged strengthened and the Republic of Cyprus weakened from the frequently touted milestone meeting [Cyprus demanded EU sanctions at the EU foreign ministers' council] in December. Cyprus made do with a couple of platonic desires expressed by the Europeans and announced that it reserves the right to postpone six chapters [of the EU accession negotiations with Turkey], whereby four of them are already blocked anyway. ... It's obvious that the effect of the policies of Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias is to make Turkey's EU accession process a means for putting the Republic of Cyprus under pressure, rather than Turkey."

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