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Ankara did not like the EU sanctions resolution

Featured Ankara did not like the EU sanctions resolution

Turkey today rejected a European Parliament resolution imposing sanctions on Ankara following a recent visit by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to the occupied northern part of Cyprus, calling it "out of touch with reality" and "blackmail". On Thursday, the European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling on EU leaders to "take action and impose severe sanctions" on Turkey, a move that is likely to boost support for France's bid to impose sanctions on Turkey at next month's EU summit.

Erdogan visited Varosha on November 15th, a fenced-in area that remained "no-man's-land" after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. Ankara backed the partial opening of Varosha last month, drawing criticism from the United States, Greece, and Cyprus. "Turkey will continue to resolutely defend both its own rights and those of the Turkish Cypriots without succumbing to any threats and blackmail," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The resolution is the latest example of efforts to "take hostage" Turkish-EU relations on the Cyprus issue, he added. The Turkish Foreign Ministry rejects the resolution and accuses the European Parliament of being "biased and detached from reality" in Cyprus. "If this approach and mentality is maintained, it will not be possible for the EU institutions to make a constructive contribution to the settlement of the Cyprus issue," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.