No talks before Turkey stops offshore activity - Cyprus Gov Spokesperson. (Famagusta).
Turkey should end its illegal actions in Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone (EZZ) for the negotiations on a solution to the Cyprus problem to resume, says Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides.
Christodoulides was asked to comment on statements by US Vice President Joe Biden that the tension in Eastern Mediterranean should de-escalate and the two sides in Cyprus should return to the negotiating table.
"The de-escalation of the tension should come from the side that caused it. Turkey should show in practice that it respects the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus," Christodoulides said.
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras discussed on Monday further steps and measures and ways their governments would act in concert in reaction to Turkish provocations in Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has said.
The Minister indicated that Turkey's illegal moves could harm the course of the ongoing UN-led negotiations, aiming to find a negotiated settlement that would reunite Cyprus under a federal roof.
Ankara has issued a notice to mariners which binds areas within Cyprus` EEZ. Following that, Cyprus directly adopted a directive which proved the illegality of the Turkish notice.
The Minister told a press conference that President Anastasiades has called a meeting of the political leaders on Tuesday to brief them.
“The Cyprus talks cannot yield results if carried out under provocative conditions,” he added.
Kasoulides spoke of a “particularly serious” development and said that the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Energy have agreed on a series of diplomatic moves and other action that would be put before the President to decide how Cyprus will react to Turkish provocations. The Defence Ministry is also expected to submit its own suggestions.
He noted that the measures will be diplomatic and legal, but said that currently they are under consideration by the state`s legal advisers.
The Foreign Minister stressed that the Turkish Cypriot leadership must realise that its contribution to these developments causes the reaction of the Greek Cypriot side. “I regret because the provocation continues on the part of leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community who want to appear to be moderate” he said.
The Minister indicated that Turkey's illegal moves could harm the course of the ongoing UN-led negotiations, aiming to find a negotiated settlement that would reunite Cyprus under a federal roof.
Ankara has issued a notice to mariners which binds areas within Cyprus` EEZ. Following that, Cyprus directly adopted a directive which proved the illegality of the Turkish notice.
The Minister told a press conference that President Anastasiades has called a meeting of the political leaders on Tuesday to brief them.
“The Cyprus talks cannot yield results if carried out under provocative conditions,” he added.
Kasoulides spoke of a “particularly serious” development and said that the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Energy have agreed on a series of diplomatic moves and other action that would be put before the President to decide how Cyprus will react to Turkish provocations. The Defence Ministry is also expected to submit its own suggestions.
He noted that the measures will be diplomatic and legal, but said that currently they are under consideration by the state`s legal advisers.
The Foreign Minister stressed that the Turkish Cypriot leadership must realise that its contribution to these developments causes the reaction of the Greek Cypriot side. “I regret because the provocation continues on the part of leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community who want to appear to be moderate” he said.
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