On Wednesday 12 November, several MEPs called on the European Union to take measures against Turkey, which has occupied the northern part of the island of Cyprus for more than 50 years.
“Instead of imposing sanctions, the EU hands out roles and rewards. Instead of setting red lines, it is giving in to Ankara’s blackmail. Instead of supporting the victim, it rewards the aggressor”, denounced Loukas Fourlas (Cypriot), speaking on behalf of the EPP Group.
According to Geadis Geadis (ECR, Cypriot), “the Turkish invasion of Cyprus is comparable to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But the reaction is different. How is it possible that Europe imposes sanctions on Russia while Turkey, instead of sanctions, receives European funding and participates in defence agreements?“
On behalf of the S&D, Costas Mavrides (Cypriot) denounced the silence of Europeans in the face of the “colonisation” of northern Cyprus by the Turks and the “massive” usurpation of Greek Cypriot property in the occupied territories. “How many more crimes will it have to commit before we take action?” And he warned that: “Justice will triumph one day. But on that day, we will remember not only the crimes, but also our partners, our family, who, at the critical moment, looked away and remained silent”.
Finally, according to Afroditi Latinopoulo (PfE, Greek), the only solution is “a total absence of dialogue with the invaders, a total absence of dialogue with the Turks”, stating that “everything else is a vulgar mockery”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)