11/10/2019 15:14
European Council President Donald Tusk reiterated on Friday EU solidarity towards Nicosia, in light of new Turkish drilling activities off the coast of Cyprus. From his part, the President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, underlined the need for a more concrete response to Turkey’s continued illegal operations, ahead of the European Council, next week, saying that “we cannot remain idle.”
Tusk was welcomed by President Anastasiades at the Presidential Palace, in Nicosia and the two had a tete-a-tete, followed by expanded talks between the delegations of the two sides.
Speaking after the meeting with Cyprus President, Tusk said that the European Council has strongly condemned Turkish illegal actions and reconfirmed that “the EU stands united behind you” in light of the new drilling activities by Turkey.
He also called on Ankara to end these activities as “they do not only undermine the recent efforts to resume Cyprus settlement talks, but they also undermine good neighbourly relations between the EU as a whole and Turkey.”
Referring to Turkey`s unilateral military operation in northern Syria, Tusk said that it is of grave concern and should stop. He added that Turkey’s actions may lead to another humanitarian catastrophe, and noted that the EU will never accept “that refugees are weaponised and used to blackmail us.”
He added that Turkey`s security concerns should be addressed through political and diplomatic means, while noting that a military intervention will only make matters worse. “Instead of creating stability, it will create even more instability in the whole region, exacerbate civilian suffering, cause further displacement and threaten progress achieved by the Global Coalition against Da`esh” Tusk said.
President Anastasiades referred in his remarks to the coming European Council, while underlining the importance Nicosia attaches in having the whole Union standing united behind the Republic of Cyprus.
He said, moreover, that he had the chance to brief Tusk on recent developments in Cyprus’ maritime zones and Turkey’s new illegal drilling operation within licensed plots in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus “in clear violation of our sovereign rights and international law.”
These actions constitute an unprecedented escalation of Turkey’s illegal behaviour and the most severe provocation so far, said President of Cyprus.
According to the President of Cyprus, unlawful activities by Turkey are taking place, at an extremely critical juncture for the Cyprus issue, at a time when plans are underway for a tripartite meeting between the UN Secretary-General, the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community and himself, aiming at the resumption of the dialogue. “Turkey’s actions clearly undermine our sincere efforts to engage in meaningful negotiations” he noted.
He thanked Tusk for his immediate response on the matter with a strong message and for including the issue in the agenda of the European Council meeting. “We need to continue sending firm messages to Turkey that the EU stands by its values of democracy and rule of law, that all Member States stand together and show solidarity during the most challenging of times, safeguarding peace and stability within the Union and beyond” the President said.
Furthermore, President Anastasiades noted that this new illegal drilling is part of a series of continued provocations by Turkey, in the buffer zone as well as with regard to the plans for a potential opening of the fenced area of Varosha under illegal Turkish military occupation.
“Turkey needs to cease these provocations and stand aside from further escalation that might cause destabilization in an already turbulent region” the President said.
He added that the recent Turkish military operation in Syria is another development of grave concern, and another testament of the way Turkish leadership operates. He remarked, moreover, that “legality ought to prevail over the rule of the jungle that the particular country wishes to impose in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
Referring to the issue of migration, the President of Cyprus said that for three years in a row Cyprus remains the top receiving Member State per capita and stressed the need for tackling the issue in its roots.
He thanked finally Tusk for his principle stance, personal interest and strong support to reaching a comprehensive settlement on the Cyprus Problem, and said that Cyprus still counts on his full and unwavering support, his resolve and leadership to exhaust all the diplomatic means in order for the Turkish violations to be terminated.
“A no deal Brexit will never be the choice of the EU“
Tusk also refereed to ongoing discussions on Bexit, saying that a no deal will never be the choice of the EU.
He said that the UK has not come forward with a workable, realistic proposal and noted that a week ago he told PM Johnson that if there was no such proposal by today, he would announce publicly that there are no more chances – because of objective reasons - for a deal during the incoming European Council.
“However, yesterday when the Irish Taoiseach and the UK Prime Minister met they both saw - for the first time - a pathway to a deal. I have received promising signals from the Taoiseach that a deal is still possible. Technical talks are taking place in Brussels as we speak. Of course, there is no guarantee of success and the time is practically up. But even the slightest chance must be used” Tusk concluded.
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.
Turkey has dispatched several vessels in areas that fall within the continental shelf/EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus. According to a navigational warning, Turkish drill ship "Yavuz" is set to carry out drilling operations inside block 7, located off the south-western coast of Cyprus.
"Yavuz”, was anchored off the island’s north-eastern coast on July 8 and operated within the territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus, until September 17, when it departed for a Turkish port in Mersin.
Moreover, Turkey issued a navigational telex (navtex), announcing its intention to start drilling off Cyprus and since 4 May 2019, the Turkish drill ship “Fatih” has been anchored 36 nautical miles west of Akamas peninsula. The area falls within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf of the Republic of Cyprus. Ankara extended the navtex until November 1, 2019.
Cyprus has called on drill ship “Yavuz” and its supporting vessels to immediately cease illegal actions in the Republic’ Exclusive Economic Zone and its continental shelf.
A navigational telex (navtex), published on the website of the Joint Rescue and Coordination Centre (JRCC) stationed in Larnaca, also warned all those working on "Yavuz" and its supporting vessels that they will face consequences and an international arrest warrant will be issued against them.
In response to Turkish activities in Cyprus’ EEZ, EU Foreign Ministers endorsed on 15 July 2019 measures, suspending, among others, negotiations with Ankara on the Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement and postponing the Association Council and other EU-Turkey meetings. Moreover, the Council reduced the pre-accession assistance to Turkey for 2020 and invited the European Investment Bank to review its lending activities in the country.
In accordance with the 20 June 2019, European Council conclusions, Foreign Ministers also invited the High Representative and the Commission to continue working on options for targeted measures in light of Turkey’s continued drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
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