Greece`s presence in the region is going to be upgraded in the framework of the country`s participation in international missions in the Eastern Mediterranean, Greek FM Evangelos Venizelos has said.
Venizelos made statements to the press on Wednesday following a meeting he had with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades in Nicosia. The Greek Minister is in Cyprus to participate in the tripartite meeting with Foreign Ministers of Cyprus and Egypt.
Venizelos said that there are missions of NATO and UN in the wider region of the Mediterranean in which Greece participates, such as the UN mission in Lebanon or the mission `Active Endeavour`.
He added that there is a permanent naval presence of Greece in the region and this is a reality that everyone needs to take into consideration.
According to Venizelos, Greece`s participation in the UN Lebanon mission is very important and the UN has asked the country to have an upgraded presence with a frigate. He also said that Greece participates in `Active Endeavour` mission with a submarine.
He pointed out that Greece`s cooperation and initiatives are political and diplomatic and aim to safeguard stability and peace in the region. Venizelos sent a message to Turkey that all countries should have in mind this aim, thus to maintain stability and peace.
The Greek FM stressed that the existence, international legal personalty, sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Cyprus Republic are the basis for a viable and fair solution of the Cyprus problem which will be to the interest of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot side, adding that this is something the Turkish side ought to have realized.
In his statements, Venizelos also said that hydrocarbons are an additional incentive for a solution that will be to the benefit of both communities on the island.
Referring to Greece`s support following the Turkish provocations in the island`s exclusive economic zone, Venizelos recalled that he has recently signed a very important agreement with his Cypriot counterpart in the fields of search and rescue which unites Nicosia and Athens FIR as well as the sea waters which relate to the two FIR.
He described this action as a very important one for both countries, adding that both countries, acting within the framework of the EU and their joint national strategy do everything that needs to be done so that there is no feeling of uncertainty and insecurity.
Invited to comment on UNSG Special Advisor`s statement with regard to the Turkish provocative acts, Venizelos said that the Espen Eide is a very serious politician and a UN representative who can play a very positive role in the Cyprus issue. He added that he is ready to meet with him and hear his views when he visits Athens November 5. Espen Barth Eide, who held talks in Ankara yesterday, is set to visit Athens and then Cyprus for talks with both communities.
Venizelos added that there is no difference between Cyprus and Turkey as regard the delineation of exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the crucial area and that Turkey does not have any claims on its own EEZ there.
He stressed that this is an EEZ and continental shelf which belong to the Cyprus Republic, adding that Turkey does not evoke any of its own sovereign rights there but an illegal agreement with the regime in Cyprus’ northern Turkish occupied areas.
Referring to the meeting with President Anastasiades, he said it was very interesting and they discussed the Greek Prime Minister`s visit to Cyprus on November 7 en route to Cairo for the meeting between the heads of states of Cyprus, Egypt and Greece.
He said they also discussed developments in Cyprus, particularly in the EEZ, issues related to the continental shelf, the Turkish provocations and the violation of international law, adding that there is coordination between the two countries and issues are examined on the basis of international law and the Law of the Sea Convention.
Turkish seismic exploration vessel `Barbaros` entered Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) last week. The move comes a few days after Turkey issued a maritime order (NAVTEX) for the area. This prompted President Nicos Anastasiades to suspend his participation in the UN backed negotiations which aim to reunify the island under a federal roof.
Consortium ENI/KOGAS has been awarded exploration licenses in Cyprus` EEZ, namely in Blocks 2,3 and 9. ENI completed 2 seismic surveys, and is planning to drill 6 wells in the coming 18 months.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.
