Athens - Greece yesterday denounced the signing of an integration accord between Turkey and the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), warning that Ankara was seriously compromising its future ties with the EU. Greece said Turkey had chosen to sign the accord at "a moment when efforts are being made by the international community to normalise ties between Athens and Ankara and when UN-led negotiations are under way for a solution to the Cyprus problem".
The accord for partial integration was signed on Wednesday, just five days ahead of a new round of UN-sponsored peace talks on Cyprus in Switzerland. It came in retaliation for a European Commission decision last month to recommend the start of talks with the Cypriot government next year for the island's accession to the EU. - (Reuter)