Kotzias rejects claims PM agreed to open EU chapters with Turkey
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias rejected on Monday claims by opposition MPs that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras agreed to open more chapters in Turkey’s accession negotiations without the agreement of Cyprus, during a session of the parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence.
“What the prime minister said is that the chapters could be opened; the question is how they will close. No chapters related to Cyprus; decision will be opened. We follow the Cyprus’ choices. If [Cyprus] wants to keep a chapter under veto, they will keep it, and with our signature,” he said as he briefed the Committee on Greece’s foreign policy in the Balkans, the Middle East and Cyprus.
The minister also dismissed the idea of joint Greek-Turkish patrols in the Aegean noting that “we condemned the idea from the beginning and Europeans apologized publicly.”
He also stressed that what Greece has big disagreements with Turkey but that, as neighbours, the two countries must talk between them. “The worst is to have third parties talk about us. We’re restarting talks with Turkey in order to put forward confidence building measures.”