Turkey must show respect to the international law and to the EU leaders, Cyprus Government Spokesman says

Turkey must show respect to the international law as well as to the leaders of the EU member states, Cyprus Government Spokesman Kyriakos Koushos has told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Saturday invited to comment on a statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry regarding the European Council conclusions on Turkey.

In its statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry claimed that with its decision the European Council “has once again shown that, it continues under a pretext of union solidarity to act as the mouthpiece of Greek and Greek Cypriot`s unjust and maximalist national claims which are contrary to international law and the principle of equity.” Koushos underlined in its statement that “it is Turkey that violates the international law and the Law of the Sea. It is Turkey that has not signed the UN Law of the Sea Convention and was, a few days ago the only country that voted against the Oceans and Law of the Sea resolution” at the UN General Assembly, he added. Moreover, he noted that the European Council’s conclusions express the policy of the EU of which Cyprus and Greece are members.

Turkey, which refers to the conclusions of the European Council that comprises the leaders of the EU member states, must at last show respect to the international law and to the leaders of a united Europe, which it aspires to join,” the Government Spokesman said.

He said that it is natural that Turkey’s actions is an issue of concern for the EU as it has to do both with the international law and the Union’s and its member states’ essential interests. Our position is therefore that Turkey must at last show respect to the international law and to the EU, which it aspires to join,” the Spokesman concluded.

The European Council adopted conclusions on Turkey during the EU leaders` dinner held on Thursday evening in Brussels.

According to the text adopted: “the European Council recalls its previous conclusions on Turkey of 22 March and 20 June” and ” reconfirms its conclusions of 17-18 October concerning Turkey’s illegal drilling activities in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone.”

Furthermore, the European Council said that “the Turkey-Libya Memorandum of Understanding on the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions in the Mediterranean Sea infringes upon the sovereign rights of third States, does not comply with the Law of the Sea and cannot produce any legal consequences for third States”.

“The European Council unequivocally reaffirms its solidarity with Greece and Cyprus regarding these actions by Turkey”, the conclusions stated.