CYPRUS: Anastasiades to raise issue of 2nd Turkish Navtex at informal EU Council

President Nicos Anastasiades held a meeting late Tuesday with his closest advisors, including the Foreign, Energy and Defence ministers, as well officials from departments responsible for energy and security issues, and decided to raise the issue of the latest Turkish actions in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone during the informal European Council in Brussels on Friday.

Turkey renewed its navtex order to mariners up until March 22, instead of this expiring on Thursday, claiming the area offshore from Cyprus was being used for naval exercises.

The Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JCCR) noted in a navtex it has issued,  that Turkey’s navtex “was referring to unauthorised and illegal activities in the exclusive economic zone, the continental shelf and the search and rescue region of the Republic of Cyprus”.

It stressed that “this action is illegal, constitutes a violation of international law, affects the maritime safety procedures and is also a criminal offence under the laws of the Republic of Cyprus”.

Anastasiades earlier on Tuesday had a telephone conversation on the issue with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

On Wednesday , the President will preside over a meeting of the Council of parliamentary party leaders, to be followed by a meeting with the US Ambassador to Cyprus, Kathleen Doherty.

The Drillship Saipem 12000, commissioned by Italian energy company ENI, was halted on February 9 by Turkish warships en route to a location within block 3 of the Cyprus  EEZ, east of the island, and bordering with the Lebanese EEZ.