The international community and great powers recognise and protect the sovereign rights of Cyprus, which are exercised by the Republic according to international law, Minister of Defence Demetris Eliades has said.

According to an official announcement, Eliades, who was speaking after visiting the US Navy frigate “USS Ramage”, at Limassol harbour, said that the United States is a great country and power who may contribute decisively in establishing conditions of peace and stability in the region.

This, he went on, is also the permanent aim of the government of the Republic of Cyprus.

Moreover, the Minister remarked that the presence of great powers in the regions is evidence to their interest to preserve stability.

Eliades was also asked to comment on a statement by Turkey’s Minister of Transport, who said that Turkey will not allow Cyprus to materialise its plans concerning natural gas.

The Minister responded that sovereign rights derive from international law and that Cyprus is exercising these rights.

“We are not going to engage in a game of threats and tension”, Eliades noted, adding that Cyprus is abiding by international law. “This is the reason why the international community and the great powers respect, recognise and protect the exercise of our sovereign rights,“ the Minister concluded.

Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus’ northern part since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus. Following a decision by Nicosia to begin natural gas and oil exploration in its exclusive economic zone, Ankara has deployed warships in the Eastern Mediterranean and has signed an illegal agreement with the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus to delineate what it calls continental shelf.

Drilling has already begun and is being carried out by Houston-based “Noble Energy”, off Cyprus’ south-eastern coast.

The government of Cyprus has protested to the UN and the EU Turkey’s moves, saying it has a sovereign right to exploit its natural resources, pointing out that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will benefit from any benefits that may come from oil drilling.

Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement has been signed with Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it.