Greek Cyprus to block EU to open new chapters for Turkey

Greek Cyprus said on Monday it would not consent to lifting its objections to Turkish accession negotiations with the European Union, saying the reasons it blocked them were still valid.

"As things presently stand, we cannot give our consent," Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides told Greek state broadcaster NET. He referred specifically to two chapters, or policy areas in accession negotiations, pertaining to judiciary and fundamental rights, and justice, freedom and security.

Greek Cyprus, internationally recognized as the Republic of Cyprus with its territory covering the whole island, is a EU member state since 2004, despite assurances to Turkey that it would be a member before a permanent solution on the island.

The island was split into Greek and Turkish sections after Turkey used its right of intervention in 1974 triggered by a brief Greek inspired coup.