EU FMs agree partial freeze on Turkey’s talks

European Union Foreign Ministers agreed unanimously Monday to sanction Turkey for failing to respect its trade obligations to Cyprus by slowing down Ankara’s membership talks.
Cyprus Foreign Minister George Lillikas has expressed his satisfaction with the decision, noting that Cyprus has achieved its goals.
The Finnish presidency announced that the ministers reached a ”deal on a common EU position concerning Turkey’s EU accession negotiations”, which will see eight of 35 policy chapters in its membership talks frozen.
The Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state, has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied one third of its territory.
Turkey, a country aspiring to enter the EU, refuses to implement the Customs Union Protocol by opening its ports and airports to Cyprus.