On Friday 9 September, Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, and European minister, Ömer Çelik, condemned the attitude of the Republic of Cyprus vis-à-vis the opening of accession negotiations Chapters 23 (judicial system and fundamental rights) and 24 (freedom, security and justice) with the EU. The chapters are being blocked by Nicosia because of Turkey’s attitude to Cyprus.
Pointing out that the accession talks are on objective criteria, Çelik said that Turkey was seen as "material of internal politics" by some member states or as a "focus point of capriciousness". Accession chapters 23 and 24 have nothing to do with a solution to the Cypriot problems, he told reporters after a high-level EU-Turkey conference in Ankara. "Southern Cyprus – just one member state blocking relations with Turkey, tarnishing EU spirit to act as one entity", he said.
Turkey’s European minister hoped the two chapters could be opened in the near future, pointing out that criticisms had been made about questions covered by the two chapters, such as fundamental rights and press freedom. He said there should be an official platform to discuss such matters and the opening of the chapters would be a sign of sincerity towards Turkey. Çelik added that Ankara was prepared to open Chapter 15 on energy, which Cyprus is blocking.
Çavuşoğlu said reunification of Cyprus was not a condition for opening chapters but it did have a de facto influence and the question was blocking the opening of new chapters and demonstrated the EU’s weakness in terms of solving certain issues. The opening of accession negotiating chapters requires unanimous approval by the member states.
Speaking before the criticisms were made of Cyprus, EU Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner Johannes Hahn said that Turkey "was, is and will be" a candidate to join the EU, although some European leaders have said they want to see the talks suspended or halted after the reaction to the attempted coup d’État in the country. Hahn hoped accession chapters 23 and 24 could be opened "as soon as possible" and pointed out that the European Commission was doing preparatory work for opening the chapters. The commissioner also hoped that a solution could be found to reunification of the island of Cyprus that "could pave the way for the opening of chapters".
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said that it was in the interests of Europe and Turkey alike to see the Cypriot question resolved, that they felt this could happen "in the near future" and that both sides could "contribute enormously" to this. Turkey’s statements will not necessarily make a positive contribution to the round of talks currently under way between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot Community, Nicos Anastasiades, and the Turkish Cypriot community, Mustafa Akinci. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)