Nicosia and Athens agree that Turkish provocative actions in the Republic of Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone should stop immediately in order for the resumption of Cyprus talks to become feasible, as was discussed during a telephone conversation, on Monday, between Acting President Yiannakis Omirou and Greek Government Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Evangelos Venizelos.
In a written statement Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides notes that during a telephone conversation Omirou “was briefed by Greek Government Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Evangelos Venizelos on the results of the Turkey-Greece High-Level Cooperation Council which took place on December 5 and 6, in Athens”.
He was also briefed of the results of Venizelos` recent visit to Turkey, Christodoulides adds.
During their conversation Omirou “underlined Nicosia’s firm position that the Turkish provocations in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus be terminated immediately and that Turkey demonstrates, in practice, respect for the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, so that the resumption of the talks for the Cyprus problem can become feasible,” he says.
In a press release Venizelos also refers to the telephone conversation stressing that “the recognition of the state, national sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus always remain at the core of the matter”.
Therefore, he continues, “ending the violation of Cyprus` EEZ and Continental Shelf by the Turkish vessel Barbaros constitutes a priority so that the resumption of intercommunal talks can become feasible”.
Turkey, whose troops occupy one third of Cyprus since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state since 2004.
Numerous rounds of UN-backed talks to reunite the island under a federal roof have failed to yield results. Recently, President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades decided to suspend his participation in the talks, following Turkey`s provocative acts in the Republic of Cyprus` EEZ.
Turkish seismic exploration vessel Barbaros entered Cyprus` EEZ, a few days after Turkey had issued an illegal maritime order (NAVTEX) for the area.
