Cyprus’ Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides expressed hope on Sunday that Turkey will display the necessary good, allowing the resumption of UN-led talks for a settlement of the Cyprus problem.
“A solution to the Cyprus problem in line with the EU acquis and international law, without anachronistic guarantees and the presence of the Turkish army, a solution safeguarding human rights which creates the conditions for lasting stability remains the President’s main aim,” Petrides said in a memorial service for those who lost their lives in Mandres, a village in Famagusta, during the 1974 Turkish invasion.
He said however that “Turkey with is unacceptable and aggressive stance in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone causes even greater problems in the efforts to resume the negotiating process.”
Petrides furthermore noted that constant threats to open the fenced-off city of Famagusta would represent a substantive obstacle for the solution of the Cyprus problem, as well as for Ankara’s EU accession course.
“All of the above show the lack of any good intention on behalf of Turkey to cooperate for reaching a solution,” he added.
Furthermore, Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Yiannis Karousos called for unity in view of the Turkish provocations.
The Republic of Cyprus does not intent to reply to Turkish aggression through provocations but through a substantive dialogue with the intervention of Europe that would lead to peace, stability and respect of international law and the European principles and values, he said on Sunday.
“Unfortunately, we are witnessing Turkey, whose leadership dreams of restoring the Ottoman Empire, violating international law and European principles and values, undermining stability and security in the region” he said.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. Turkey has ignored numerous UN resolutions calling for the withdrawal of the Turkish troops and respect of the integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.
Ankara sent on several occasions its seismic research vessel ‘Barbaros’ to Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), following the Republic of Cyprus’ decision, in 2011, to start exploratory offshore drilling. After May 2019, Turkey caused a stir by sending consecutively two drill ships, “Fatih” and “Yavuz”, to conduct unauthorised drilling activities of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean, at times in areas licensed by Cyprus to international energy companies.
In the wake of repeated provocations by Turkey in territorial waters in both Cyprus and Greece, the EU Foreign Ministers last Friday agreed to explore and apply restrictive measures on Turkey in case of further escalation.
