The EU should go beyond words, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has said during a teleconference with the European Council President Charles Michel, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU member states leaders.
Solid and concrete determination is necessary in order for Turkey to cease its illegal actions in Cyprus` EEZ and the wider Eastern Mediterranean region region, he added.
This is what Anastasiades wrote in a post on his Twitter account after participating on Wednesday evening’s teleconference.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.
Turkey has ignored numerous UN resolutions calling for the withdrawal of the Turkish troops and respect of the integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.
Ankara sent on several occasions its seismic research vessel ‘Barbaros’ to Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), following the Republic of Cyprus’ decision, in 2011, to start exploratory offshore drilling.
After May 2019, Turkey caused a stir by sending consecutively two drill ships, “Fatih” and “Yavuz”, to conduct unauthorised drilling activities of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean, at times in areas licensed by Cyprus to international energy companies.
The European Council reaffirmed its full solidarity with Cyprus, regarding the respect of its sovereignty and sovereign rights in accordance with international law and in February 2020, placed two persons under restrictive measures, in relation to Turkey`s unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
