Cyprus Threatens To Block EU-Turkey Migrant Deal

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades has said his country will not accept the European Union's migration deal with Turkey without concessions from Ankara.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told EU leaders last week that Ankara was willing to take back all refugees and migrants who enter Europe from Turkey in future in return for financial aid, faster EU entry talks, and quicker visa-free travel for its citizens.

But Nicosia has been at loggerheads with Turkey since the 1974 Turkish invasion partitioned the island into two sectors, the Greek Cypriot side recognized internationally as Cyprus, and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state.

"Cyprus does not intend to consent to the opening of any new chapters [on EU accession] if Turkey does not fulfill its obligations," Anastasiades said after talks with EU President Donald Tusk.

Earlier, Tusk said "the key question of legality" still needed to be sorted out for the deal.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters