Ankara to shun Greek Cyprus meet invitation

Ankara says it will not attend the European Security and Defense Policy meetings if Greek Cyprus, which will head ESDP as of January, sends invitation. Greek Cyprus will take on its duties in the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) in January, six months prior to its term for the EU presidency.  Since Denmark, which will head the EU starting Jan. 1 after Poland's term ends, does not participate in ESDP, Greek Cyprus will take on presidential duties related to defense early. Turkey will assess its cooperation with the ESDP when Greek Cyprus takes over on a case-by-case basis, diplomatic sources told the Hurriyet Daily News. Turkey will not attend meetings chaired by Greek Cyprus and will see EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton is its interlocutor. Greek Cypriot Defense Minister Demetris Eliades in remarks earlier this month said they would be dealing with the mechanism for financing military operations, called the Athena Mechanism, along with chairing the Working Group on Target Settings, which studies the development of the military capabilities of the EU. If Eliades invites Turkey to a meeting concerning ESDP, Turkish officials will not participate, diplomatic sources said. Further cooperation areas would be considered case-by-case, the source said, implying Ankara's contribution to ESPD missions. Turkey is currently participating in ESDP missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kosovo.