in-cyprus 28 July 2021 - by Annie Charalambous
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has told Euronews he could veto the EU’s ‘positive agenda’ with Turkey following Ankara’s latest provocation with the partial opening of Varosha – the ghost town of Famagusta.
“Unfortunately, interests over principles prevail also in Europe…but nothing can be ruled out,” he said in an interview on Tuesday evening after his talks in Athens with Greek Premier Kyriacos Mitsotakis.
“We will see how Turkey acts and of course nothing is ruled out. We could use whatever right the Republic of Cyprus and of course to the Hellenic Republic has to shake Turkey up – whether it is a veto on the positive agenda or other measures that could be adopted by Europe,” he said.
“But I repeat we must be quite careful because, unfortunately, interests are above principles and values in Europe as well,” he added.
Moreover, the President did not hesitate to harshly criticize both the United Kingdom and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cyprus, Elizabeth Spehar.
He sent the message that proposals and ideas considered by them to be bridging ones actually only satisfy what Turkey is gradually pursuing.
