BREAKING NEWS

Turkey's Gul raps 'miserable' Cypriot EU presidency

By REUTERS

NOVEMBER 23, 2011 11:00

ISTANBUL - Turkish President Abdullah Gul has slammed the prospect of Cyprus taking over the European Union presidency next year as "half a country" leading a "miserable union", Turkish newspapers reported on Wednesday.

His comments to Turkish journalists during a visit to Britain underscored Ankara's frustrations with its EU accession process, which has ground to a halt over the division of the Mediterranean island and opposition from France and Germany.

Gul said the failure to open new chapters in Turkey's negotiating process was harming the 27-nation bloc's reputation and that it could suffer its biggest loss of credibility in 2012 when Cyprus takes over the rotating EU presidency in July.

"Now this half a country, this incomplete country will take over the EU presidency," Gul was quoted as saying by Aksam newspaper. "There will be a half-presidency leading a miserable union. That is exactly the expression I said to EU leaders."

US to name former UN official as new Gaza aid envoy

By REUTERS

04/24/2024 07:33 PM

Iranian rapper who took part in Mahsa Amini protests sentenced to death

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

04/24/2024 06:48 PM

Two rockets fired toward Sderot, house hit by shrapnel

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

04/24/2024 06:42 PM

Biden approves aid to Israel

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

04/24/2024 06:15 PM