Cyprus would veto energy chapter of EU-Turkey entry talks

Cyprus Foreign Minister Yiorgos Lillikas revealed that Nicosia would veto any effort in the European Union to open the energy chapter in membership negotiations with Turkey.
Lillikas said Cyprus had tabled its positions on the three chapters that the EU plans to open with Ankara.
”With open cards and respect to the EU procedures and European Council decisions, we had warned that if there were any attempts to open the energy chapter –there were thoughts in the Commission- the Cyprus government would file a veto,” the Cypriot Minister said.
In statements after a meeting in Nicosia with George Perdikis, leader of the Green Party in Cyprus, the Foreign Minister referred to his talks in Paris earlier this week with the new French government.
He said among the issues discussed in Paris were European issues, including Turkey’s bid to join the European Union, and bilateral matters.
”Between the governments of Cyprus and France there is mutual understanding on the basic issues that concern us, both on European and bilateral matters, and there is political will of the two governments to continue the dialogue and cooperation that developed with the previous French government,” the Cypriot official pointed out.
Lillikas added that he had agreed with French officials to continue contacts and dialogue on a number of issues of mutual interest, including Turkey‘s EU accession course and the French President’s proposal for creating a Mediterranean Union.