CYPRUS: President to report Turkey's violations to EU and EPP

President Nicos Anastasiades embarks on Thursday on a campaign to brief in person the leaders of the European Union on the Turkish violations of Cyprus` exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with a view to secure universal condemnation of Ankara`s illegal moves.

President Anastasiades will make an intervention in the meeting of the European Council and will ask for reaction to the continuing violation of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus in its Exclusive Economic Zone by Turkey.

On the sidelines of the Council, Anastasiades will protest Turkey`s moves and positions to European leaders. Among others, the President will hold a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron, which will focus on Turkey's violations of Cyprus` EEZ. The meeting was requested by the British side.

In addition, Anastasiades will participate on Thursday in the Summit of the European People`s Party (EPP) which will take place in Brussels. EU and non-EU heads of state and government and opposition leaders of the EPP, along with the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, Herman Van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso, will participate in this Summit.

Turkish seismic exploration vessel `Barbaros` entered Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on Monday. The move comes a few days after Turkey issued a maritime order, or NAVTEX, for the area. This prompted President Nicos Anastasiades to suspend his participation in the UN backed negotiations which aim to reunify the island under a federal roof.