Foreign Affairs Minister Nicos Christodoulides on Tuesday called on Cyprus` EU counterparts to condemn Turkey`s actions, in the EU Summit conclusions to be published after the EU leaders` dinner on Thursday. The Minister made the call during a speech at the deliberations of the EU General Affairs Council meeting (GAC), which concluded earlier today in Brussels.
Following yesterday`s discussion in the Foreign Affairs Council, the Foreign Minister, raised once more, the issue of Turkey`s recent actions within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus, calling for EU solidarity in practice, by including a specific reference to the text of the European Council Conclusions.
During his intervention today, the Minister reminded his counterparts that Turkey`s actions are in stark contrast to the obligations it has undertaken as a candidate country for good neighborly relations and normalizing its relations with all EU Member States, including the Republic of Cyprus.
Concluding, after noting that Turkey`s actions violated the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus and threatened the interests of the EU itself, Christodoulides underlined that through the Conclusions the EU and all its Member States should send a clear signal to Ankara for immediate termination of such behaviors and their non-repetition.
The issue of Turkey was also raised by Nikos Christodoulides in his private meeting with EU High Representative Federica Mogherini. There he discussed the Turkish challenges in the Republic of Cyprus` EEZ and how they affect security and peace in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Minister and the High Representative also discussed regional developments and exchanged views on the role that Cyprus can play as a bridge between the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean and the EU.
According to the Minister, the two explored ways to exploit the trilateral mechanisms of cooperation between Cyprus and Greece with countries in the region. At the same time, the Foreign Minister informed the High Representative of Nicosia`s efforts to resume talks on the Cyprus issue, provided that Turkey would end its provocative actions. They also exchanged views on European defense issues and on EU-Western Balkans relations.
The FM is now attending a meeting with EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood and Enlargement Johannes Khan, to, discuss issues related to Euro-Turkish relations and the country`s forthcoming Progress Report.
In this context and in the light of the forthcoming Progress Report on Turkey, Christodoulides will underline the need for the Report to record objectively both the situation in the country and the lack of progress in its obligations, including those vis-a-vis Cyprus. They will also discuss the latest developments on the Cyprus issue as well as the situation in the Western Balkans.
