By Jean Christou
The National Council met for five and a half hours on Monday to discuss what steps “political, legal and diplomatic” Cyprus could take to counter Turkey’s violation of the island’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Political party leaders were briefed by President Nicos Anastasiades on his trip to Milan where he had raised the issue with a number of counterparts, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said after Monday’s meeting the council had unanimously condemned the Turkish actions.
He said there had been suggestions by all participants on what steps to take as a follow on from their meeting on October 7, three days after Turkey had issued a NAVTEX notice reserving an area east of the island for seismic exploration that would include areas of the EEZ.
“In an atmosphere of mutual understanding, suggestions were heard and proposals were submitted by all party leaders. Tomorrow [Tuesday] the exchange of views will be completed and additional measures in response to the Turkish provocations will be announced,” the spokesman said.
On October 7, in addition to pulling out of the UN-backed talks, the Greek Cypriot side was considering other actions involving the international community that included official complaints to the UN Security Council, the EU, and the European Parliament, writing letters to US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin, attempting to freeze Turkey’s EU accession chapters, and studying legal ways to counter Turkey’s violation of the EEZ.
Anastasiades, speaking at an event on Sunday said the returning to the talks was off the cards as long as Turkey persisted with its current actions.
“I will not yield through advice and suggestions to return to a dialogue of the deaf,” he said.
“I want to make clear that if there is a side that is interested in the earliest possible solution of the Cyprus problem, it is neither Turkey nor the Turkish Cypriot leadership – who have hindered the solution for 40 years through their intransigence. It is neither Turkey nor the Turkish Cypriots who were forced to abandon their ancestral homes. It is the Greek Cypriots who are paying the price.”
Anastasiades said regional developments may have prevented some circles from taking more decisive measures against Turkey for its actions in the EEZ, even if they fully recognised that Nicosia`s decision to suspend its participation in the negotiations was justified.
“The unacceptable provocation by Turkey, five days before the beginning of the substantive dialogue on the Cyprus problem, not only violates international law in a flagrant way but it also proves wrong all those who believed in Turkey’s assurances about a substantial contribution to the solution of the problem,” he said.
“Some third parties from foreign countries advised us that it is possible, through various actions, for the natural wealth to be determined now with the participation of the Turkish Cypriots. I want to point out to them that nothing of the sort will ever be accepted. Such a thing will never be accepted,” he added.
The island’s natural wealth belonged to the state and this should be an incentive for the Turkish side to seek a solution so that Turkish Cypriots can benefit.
“Unfortunately, the recent actions by Turkey do not serve the purpose of confidence building measures or the creation of a constructive environment which would facilitate the process of the talks. On the contrary, they create mistrust and raise serious doubts within the Greek Cypriot community with regard to Ankara`s true intentions,” he said.
