Members of the Cypriot delegation at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) have submitted a written declaration before the Assembly condemning Turkey’s bellicose threats against Cyprus and its sovereign right to prospect for oil and natural gas within its EEZ.

The written declaration, signed by many MPs, members of PACE, said that Cyprus’ right stems from and is in strict compliance with international law and in particular, the Convention on the Law of the Sea, which Turkey has not signed to date.

The MPs strongly condemned Turkey’s bellicose threats against a member state of the Council of Europe and the EU, calling on the Turkish Prime Minister to immediately cease all threats and actions creating a climate of tension in the region, as well as his blackmail for collapse of the on-going talks on the Cyprus problem, should the Republic of Cyprus proceed with its exploration.

They also welcomed statements by, inter alia, the USA, the Russian Federation, EU member states and the EU Commissioner for Enlargement concerning the inalienable sovereign right of Cyprus to explore eventual oil and natural gas deposits within its EEZ and asked the PACE to openly support this right as well.