Cyprus to request Syrian position on Turkish cruise ship

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Photis Photiou will be discussing on Monday the case of a Turkish cruise ship that sailed from the closed port of Famagusta for Latakia, Syria, with the Syrian Charge d’ Affaires in Nicosia, in order to request the official Syrian position.

European Commission Vice President and Commissioner for Transport Jacques Barrot, commenting on the case said on Sunday that Turkey and EU members must respect all states, including Cyprus.

Barrot, who was speaking in Limassol through an interpreter, said ”this is a matter for which the Cypriot authorities will reach conclusions.”

”What I would like to remind is that Cyprus and all European states and Turkey must respect the other states,” he said, adding that ”this is a matter to which we give great attention.”

In statements to the press in Larnaca, Photiou said Cyprus regards Syria as ”a friendly country” and that ”such a development would certainly be negative and even affect the relations of the two countries.”

He said ”information that this cruise ship sailed into the port of Latakia has been verified,” adding that ”it appears to be flying the Georgia flag and, from information we have, belongs to a Turkish businessman.”

Photiou noted that he spoke on Sunday with Cyprus’ Ambassador in Syria, who said he had been discussing the issue with the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

”It appears that there is no official confirmation on behalf of the Syrian government that there is an agreement with the occupied areas,” he added.

The Minister said he would be summoning the Syrian Charge d’ Affaires to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in order ”to officially make all the necessary representations, request explanations, but mainly to request the official position of the Syrian government.”

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The town of Famagusta has been fenced off and its port closed.