Anastasiades will report Turkish provocation to the European Council
22 Οκτωβρίου 2014
President Nicos Anastasiades will report Turkey’s provocations in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to both the European Council convening in Brussels on Thursday and during his contacts throughout the summit. In comments to CyBC radio, Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides on Tuesday said Anastasiades had already scheduled a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron which will exclusibly focus on Turkey’s action in the area. Christodoulides revealed the meeting was taking place at the UK’s request. He also said Anastasiades would bring up the matter during the European People’s Party (EPP) meeting and would also be discussing it during encounters with other leaders. Christodoulides said Turkey’s violations were not on the European Council’s agenda for discussion as such since this agenda had been set out three months ago but that Anastasiades would be bringing them up in the framework of other topics. He said the Republic of Cyprus had already been in contact with the European Council president and that Anastasiades would be asking the EU leaders to send a strong and specific message to Ankara. Also, the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament decided on Tuesday in Strasbourg to discuss the illegal actions of Turkey in Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone during the mini session of the European Parliament to be held in Brussels, November 12-13. According to Cyprus News Agency (CNA) sources, the issue will be included in the agenda of the mini session plenary, which is not different from the monthly plenary held in Strasbourg, under the title “Turkish actions creating tensions in the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Cyprus”. Turkish seismic exploration vessel `Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa` entered Cyprus` EEZ on Monday. The move comes a few days after Turkey issued a maritime order, or NAVTEX, for the area. Anastasiades to suspend his participation in the UN backed negotiations which aim to reunify the island under a federal roof. The National Council on Tuesday adopted a package of eight measures with immediate effect in response to the continuing violation of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus in its EEZ by Turkey. Among others, the Republic of Cyprus will not consent to the opening of any new chapter in Turkey’s accession process and will conduct a study of the possibility of recourse to the Security Council of the United Nations.
