Brussels, 09/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - Following the decision made by the European Affairs Council on 8 December not to sanction Turkey any further for the non-application of the Ankara Protocol on the extension of the customs union (EUROPE 10036), Cyprus has announced that it will use its veto in Council proceedings to block the opening of five new chapters in accession negotiations with Ankara (eight chapters have already been suspended by the EU since December 2006). The Cypriot minister for foreign affairs, Markos Kyprianou, announced at the end of the Council meeting on Tuesday in Brussels that his country had decided to introduce specific “conditions” for opening the following chapters: - free movement of workers; - legal affairs and fundamental rights; - justice, freedom and security; - education and culture; - foreign policy, defence and security. Mr Kyprianou explained that accession talks on these five chapters will not be able to start until Turkey has respected its commitments as contained in the “framework of negotiations” signed with the EU at the beginning of negotiations in 2005. These commitments not only include the extension of the customs union and the opening of ports and airports to Cypriot operators (which is still not the case) but also the obligation of working towards good neighbourly relations and a normalisation of links with Cyprus. Mr Kyprianou underlined that in all these areas, Turkey has not made any progress. The minister also underlined the fact that Cyprus will maintain its veto against the opening of the “energy” chapter due to the “hostile behaviour” perpetrated by Turkey with regard to Cypriot boats exploring energy resources in the Aegean Sea. Mr Kyprianou explained that “the objective is not to halt Turkey's accession process” (which Nicosia, in principle, supports) but to ensure that Turkey, like all candidate countries, respects its obligations. Nevertheless, there is still the “environment” chapter expected to be opened with Turkey on 21 December (the 12th out of a total of 35). (H.B./transl.fl)