The government is expected to announce measures and actions regarding Ankara’s provocations in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), following a National Council meeting on Tuesday. According to the Cyprus News Agency, the measures are going likely to be political, diplomatic and legal. Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is scheduled to visit Cyprus on November 7. The meeting between the Greek Premier and the Cyprus President is taking place as part of preparations for a trilateral summit between the leaders of Greece, Cyprus and Egypt in Cairo. The National Council convened on Monday and exchanged views on the steps to be taken. The meeting will continue Tuesday during which the actions to follow will be finalised. The government said the Turkish vessel Barbaros, which collects seismic data, entered their exclusive economic zone on Monday morning and intended to stay in the area according to a maritime advisory issued in early October. “This is a clear violation of Cypriot sovereign rights,” said government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides. He described it as the “most serious” escalation of a dispute that has long simmered since the declaration of a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in north Cyprus in 1983. There was no immediate response from Turkish authorities. Turkey, which backs the Turkish Cypriot entity, does not recognise the jurisdiction of the Nicosia government in the exploration area off the southeastern tip of Cyprus. The row has already triggered a suspension of peace talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots on the island partitioned by a 1974 Turkish invasion that followed a brief coup engineered by the military junta then ruling Greece. Cyprus has become particularly keen to develop offshore gas reserves as a potential source of revenue since it was compelled to seek an international financial bailout in early 2013.
Published by: www.incyprus.philenews.com
