Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades stressed to the EU that it should make it clear that it will react in the event the Turkish provocations either at sea or on land continue.

The President made the statement during an intervention at Thursday’s preparatory video conference ahead of the European Council summit. The video conference was attended by European Council President Charles Michel and the leaders of Malta, Lithuania and Luxembourg.

A written statement by Government Spokesman Kyriakos Koushos said that the videoconference dealt with issues concerning the pandemic, economic recovery, immigration as well as issues concerning the EU’s relations with Turkey and Russia.

In his intervention, President Anastasiades commented on all issues of the agenda, including the National Recovery and Resilience Plan submitted by the Republic of Cyprus and the relevant reforms and investments it is planning to implement for the necessary disbursement of European funds.

According to Koushos, the President’s intervention focussed on the discussion that will take place next week at the European Council regarding the EU-Turkey relations and pointed out the “contradiction between the clear position of the EU and the international community on the reunification of Cyprus – on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, with political equality, as set out in the relevant UN resolutions – and Turkish demands for a two-state solution”.

At the same time President Anastasiades pointed out the need on the part of Turkey to de-escalate the tension in the Republic of Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone, stressing that any continuation of the fait accompli in Varosha will be a key blow to prospects to resume negotiations for a Cyprus settlement.

He also pointed out that “the EU should be clear that there will be a reaction in the event the provocations either at sea or on land continue”.

President Anastasiades also referred to the irregular migrant flows Cyprus is facing through Turkey which does not comply with its obligations with the EU on the issue.

He said Turkey continues to refuse to implement the EU-Turkey Customs Union Agreement with Cyprus and the additional protocol to the association agreement to lift its embargo against Cypriot-flagged ships, an action which constitutes an additional violation of its contractual obligations to the EU.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results.