The resumption of the UN led Cyprus reunification talks, the result of the referendum in Turkey, the current state of affairs as well as recent actions of Turkey will be discussed at a meeting of the National Council, the President’s top advisory body, Government Spokesman Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday.
Christodoulides was replying to questions by CyBC, in Kyperounda, a Cyprus Presidency press release issued here today says.
Replying to a question as to what will be discussed at the National Council`s meeting tomorrow, the Spokesman said that “the meeting takes place on the occasion of the resumption of talks after Mr Akinci returned to the negotiating table.”
Certainly, he added, “the result of the elections (referendum) in Turkey, the state of affairs as it unfolds as well as Turkey`s actions as we are experiencing them in recent days will be discussed.”
At the same time Christodoulides pointed out that “it is not through statements, press releases and social media postings that one guarantees the Republic of Cyprus` rights.” He added that it is “through very specific actions which on the part of the government and the executive power have already been set in motion.”
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. The invasion followed a Greek junta backed coup against the then President of Cyprus, the late Archbishop Makarios. UN-backed talks, currently underway, aim to reunite the island under a federal roof.
A navigational warning (Navtex) was issued by Turkey last Wednesday seeking to reserve an area within the territorial sea, continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of Cyprus off the coast of Famagusta for the conduct of seismic surveys, between 21 April and 30 June 2017, by the survey vessel “Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa” and support vessel “Bravo Supporter”.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement on Thursday pointed out that the Navtex “was issued by an incompetent authority and is, therefore, invalid”, noting the competence for the issuance of Navtex concerning the reservation of areas within the search and rescue region of Cyprus belongs to the Republic of Cyprus. “In this context, proper actions were taken in order to inform all interested parties in relation to the invalidity of the Turkish NAVTEX”.