Filenews 28 July 2022
Cyprus and Greece are in constant and close coordination, especially in the light of Turkish threats to create new faits accomplis both on the ground and at sea, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus Ioannis Kasoulides and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Nikos Dendias, said today, in view of the announced illegal drilling by the Turkish drilling rig "Abdulhamid Khan".
In joint statements after their meeting in Nicosia, the Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said that there are six potential points where illegal drilling could take place and added that some moves were discussed in the hope of preventing new tensions, while Nikos Dendias recalled that the relevant decisions of the European Union are in force.
"We expect the drilling rig to come and we have also discussed some moves, in the hope that these will prevent these tensions from arising in our exclusive economic zone," Mr. Kasoulides said.
As the Cypriot Foreign Minister said, "there are more than six points" where the illegal drilling could take place, recalling that the decision on where to do exactly will be made by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan himself. He noted that the six potential points are not limited to the Cypriot EEZ.
For his part, the Greek Foreign Minister assured that "we are always in constant and close coordination, especially under the rule of the threat of attempting to create new faits accomplis both on the ground and at sea, despite international law and despite the law of the sea".
"I recall that the relevant EU decisions are valid and we expect Turkey to comply with these decisions," he added.
Ukraine is not the only case of blatant violation of international law
Moreover, both Foreign Ministers stressed that the case of Ukraine is not the only case of violation of international law, with the Greek Foreign Minister recalling that the Turkish invasion has been taking place for 48 years.
"The international community did not react to the invasion of Cyprus in the way it should have reacted and we must remind that the invasion and illegal occupation of territories in Ukraine is not the only example of an invasion of Europe, just as we should not fail to underline that revisionism has ceased to be an acceptable practice and also even passively it is not possible for the international community to accept it", he said, recalling also that both Cyprus and Greece took a principled stance, fully implementing European sanctions despite the costs they mean for their societies.
In his own report, Mr. Kasoulides stressed that as in the case of Ukraine, the Cyprus problem was and remains a matter of invasion and occupation. "The same principles that are violated in the case of Ukraine are also violated in the case of Cyprus for 48 consecutive years," he added.
Crescendo of provocative rhetoric
At the same time, Mr. Kasoulides stressed "the continuous violations of international law of the UN resolutions and the continued hybrid tactics of Turkey form a difficult environment that we must face".
"We are witnessing in Turkey's interventions a crescendo of provocative rhetoric, constant threats, a harsh public debate on foreign policy issues," he said.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs assured that "as far as we are concerned, we will continue to walk the path of rationality, which is none other than that of the international law of international treaties, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as European principles and values".
"Our rhetoric follows low tones, which is what one sees every day. We are discussing possible ways to deal with Turkish provocation and aggression, as it manifests itself towards Cyprus and Greece," he added.
In relation to the Cyprus problem, Mr. Kasoulides stressed that despite the efforts of the President of the Republic to promote specific confidence-building measures (CBMs) that aimed to create mobility and strengthen the climate of trust, the Turkish Cypriot side proceeded to reject them, proposing a two-state solution.
"The aim was and remains to resolve the Cyprus problem, on the agreed basis of the bizonal bicommunal federation, in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council," he stressed.
Moreover, expressing support for the MOHs submitted by the President of the Republic, the Greek Foreign Minister expressed regret for the expected, as he said, rejection by the Turkish Cypriot side.
"We share your pragmatic approach regarding the prospects for the resumption of negotiations, which of course are unfortunately not auspicious," Said Nikos Dendias.
Rejecting and condemning "any proposal for a two-state solution, promised by Turkish officials and representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community", Mr. Dendias stressed that the solution of the Cyprus problem within the framework of the bizonal bicommunal federation, on the basis of the resolutions of the UN Security Council and the European acquis "is the highest priority of Greek foreign policy".
The only positive piece, as the Greek Foreign Minister said, is that "the discussion on the new text of a decision on the renewal of UNFICYP in the Security Council took place in a consensual atmosphere, despite the general polarization that prevails at this time".
