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EU supports Cyprus, Greece

26/02/2018 09:36

The Varna EU - Turkey Summit, of the 26th of March is as of now conditional to Turkey`s termination of illegal actions in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus and the EU leaders reassessment of Turkey`s behavior in the Formal March EU Summit (22-23) according to Council President Donald Tusk.

EU Council President Tusk told the Press, after the informal Summit in Brussels that President Anastasiades and Prime Minister Tsipras informed the EU27 about Turkey`s illegal violations in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the Aegean.

On behalf of all the EU leaders, Tusk expressed the EU`s full solidarity with Cyprus and Greece, and called on Turkey to terminate these activities.

The EU also supports the sovereign right of the Republic of Cyprus to explore and exploit its natural resources, in accordance with EU and international law, including the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, said Donald Tusk.

The Council President stated that these actions contradict Turkey`s commitment to good neighbourly relations and their normalisation with all Member States.

He concluded stating that "We are ready to cooperate with Turkey and will assess at our March European Council whether the conditions are there to hold the Leaders Meeting with Turkey in Varna on 26 March".

Turkey`s actions are a European problem

Turkey`s actions in the EEZ are a European problem and not solely a problem of the Republic of Cyprus Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides said following the conclusion of the EU`s informal summit in Brussels.

"During the European Council, there was a collective, clear position by all the Member States on Turkey`s provocations in the Republic of Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone," the Spokesman noted.

He also stressed that "we take note of the fact, as it is clear from the statements made by the President of the European Council on behalf of the 27, that Turkey`s actions in the Republic of Cyprus`s EEZ are a European and not exclusively a problem of the Republic of Cyprus" .

"At the same time, it is important that Turkey`s behavior will be reassessed at the European Council summit next March and any decisions in relation to the EU-Turkey Summit in Varna, will be taken on the basis of this assessment, said Nikos Christodoulides.