EU lawmakers and France to impose sanctions on Turkey next month.
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The European Parliament voted for a new resolution that would impose sanctions on Turkey, over its illegal exploration of natural gas near Greece and the Turkish President visit to Northern Cyprus. Greece has long requested European Union to sanction Turkey for its repeated provocation in Eastern Mediterranean over natural gas exploration.
Recently, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Northern Cyprus. Cyprus has been divided in two after the 1974 invasion by Turkey which led to a state where the North is Turkish, while the South is Greek and of the Cyprus government. The President backed the reopening of the city of Varosha infuriating United States, Greece and Greek Cypriots. The city is recognized as an independent state only by Turkey.
The EU resolution passed with 631 votes in favour, three against and 59 abstentions. The non- binding resolution will support France’s push for EU sanctions on Turkey. The sanctions will most likely target Turkish hydrocarbon search such as shipping, banking and energy. France is not on good terms with Turkey over other issues such as Libya, where Turkey is increasingly getting involved in the conflict.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said at the French Parliament.
Turkey knows what it needs to do. Confrontation or collaboration, it’s up to them.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian
On Friday, Turkey has rejected the EU sanctions over the Erdogan’s visit to Northern Cyprus and called the sanctions ‘disconnected from the realities’. Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy criticized the resolution and said the EU is prejudiced against Turkey.
If this approach and mentality are maintained, it would not be possible for EU bodies to make a constructive contribution to the settlement of the Cyprus issue.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy.
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