Cyprus to report Turkish provocations to UN and EU

Cyprus will report within the day to the UN and the EU Turkey’s provocative stance towards the Republic of Cyprus, in relation to the exploration and exploitation of possible oil reserves or natural gas in the sea area of the island.

“We are proceeding just as we planned,” Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis said here Wednesday after a Cabinet meeting. To a question on Turkey’s threats, he said “we have nothing else to add further to our reaction yesterday towards the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s provocative statement.”

“We will not be hauled into a public debate over an issue which solely concerns the lawful government of the Republic of Cyprus and in which neither Turkey nor the illegal regime has any say,” the Spokesman pointed out.

Asked if the exploration and exploitation of the possible oil reserves was discussed during the cabinet meeting, the Spokesman said there was a briefing and there was an exchange of views on the issue.

“We are proceeding just as we planned, exercising, as an independent and sovereign state, the legal, inalienable and safeguarded by international law, rights,” the Spokesman added.

Pashiardis said “we are neither indifferent to Turkey’s threats nor are we concerned.”

To a remark that Turkey might try to create a climate of instability to possible investors and asked how the government is intending to react, the Spokesman said “we are proceeding within the day, to report Turkey’s provocative stance both to the UN and the EU.”

“We assess Turkey’s threats as unjustified, and the reaction of the incorrigible troublemaker of the region as unfounded,” Pashiardis said, adding that “we refuse to discuss Turkey’s reactions.”

The Spokesman remarked he had nothing to say to a question whether the government intends to sign with Syria an agreement similar to those it signed with Egypt and Lebanon.

Invited to comment on a recent article by former Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Nicos Rolandis concerning the land oil reserves in Cyprus, the Spokesman referred journalists to Rolandis.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in its statement yesterday that “the countries and companies, which think of launching oil and natural gas exploration under null and void licenses to be given by the Greek Cypriot administration, should take into consideration the sensitivity of the situation and will of Turkish Cypriots who are the other founder nation on the island.”

“These countries and companies should not launch any initiatives that may have a negative impact on the settlement of the Cyprus problem,” it said.