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President stresses at MED7 need for decisive EU stance

11/09/2020 09:01

President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades underlines to his counterparts the need for a decisive EU stance in relation to Turkey, Government Spokesman Kyriakos Koushos has said referring to the Summit of the EU Mediterranean countries MED7 that is hosted in Corsica, France.

"The # Med7 Summit in Corsica is under way. President @Anastasiadescy points out to his counterparts the need for a decisive EU stance that will have a cost, while clarifying that it is not possible for Turkey to continue to act unhindered in the region", the Spokesman says in his twitter account.

The leaders of the seven Mediterranean EU member states, who meet on Thursday in Corsica, will discuss, inter alia, Turkish provocations in the Eastern Mediterranean and are expected to issue a Joint Declaration after their Summit.

The 7th MED7 Summit is attended by Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and the leaders of France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Malta.

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.