The Government of the Republic
of Cyprus strongly condemns Turkey’s new attempt, close to the Karpasia
peninsula, within the Territorial Sea of the Republic. This second planned
drilling, within two months from the commencement of the ongoing illegal
drilling operations in the western part of Cyprus’ EEZ, constitutes an
escalation of Turkey’s continued violations of the sovereign rights of the
Republic of Cyprus under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as
customary International Law and constitutes a serious violation of the
sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.
Turkey continues to blatantly
violate international law, both conventional as well as customary, flagrantly
disregarding the European Union’s and the international community’s calls to
cease its illegal activities and respect the sovereign rights of the Republic
of Cyprus to explore and exploit its natural resources within its maritime
zones. Instead of engaging in dialogue, as the international community calls
her to do, Turkey deliberately avoids doing so, in order to create new fait
accomplis.
It is indeed paradoxical that,
while Turkey does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus, a member state of the
United Nations and the European Union, that has concluded international
agreements with its neighbours, she attempts to invoke international law
claiming at the same time to act upon the “licensing” of an illegal occupying
regime. It is underlined, herewith, that drilling operations that are
purportedly conducted on behalf of “TRNC” are illegal and null and void,
as it is also the case for the secessionist entity in the occupied part
of Cyprus, as provided for in the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council
[541 (1983) και 550 (1984].
Ankara ought to realise that
the only way to deal with the problems she herself creates, is through an
intensive and decisive dialogue that will lead us to a solution on the basis
of the relevant UN Resolutions and the principles upon which the European
Union is founded. A solution that will, amongst others, address the
challenges we currently face as a result of the unacceptable military
occupation by Turkey.
The Republic of Cyprus is
determined to continue to defend its legal rights to the benefit of all its
legal citizens, intensifying its efforts at a legal, political and diplomatic
level, using all means at its disposal, especially in the framework of the
European Union. To this effect, we recall the decisions of the Council of the
European Union, and in particular the Conclusions of the European Council of
20th June 2019, condemning Turkey’s illegal actions in the Eastern
Mediterranean and underlining the direct and serious impact that these
actions have on the whole spectrum of the EU-Turkey relations, and to which
the Union will respond with appropriate measures.
(RM/MG/II)
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