Press Releases

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus and Italy, Mr Nikos Christodoulides and Mr Luigi Di Maio met on Wednesday, 29 January 2020, in Rome, to discuss their excellent bilateral relations, the Libya crisis, migration, the most recent developments in Eastern Mediterranean and energy related issues.

Recalling the European Council Conclusions of October and December 2019, Italy reiterated its full solidarity with Cyprus on Turkey's continued illegal drilling activities in Eastern Mediterranean, completely disregarding Cyprus' sovereignty and sovereign rights.

The two Ministers, welcoming the invitation made last summer by the Cyprus government to negotiate with Turkey, agreed that the delimitation of exclusive economic zones and the continental shelf should be addressed through dialogue and negotiation in good faith, in full respect of International Law and in accordance with the principle of good neighbourly relations.

With reference to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Libya and Turkey on the delimitation of the continental shelf, the Ministers reiterated that it is unacceptable, it infringes upon the sovereign rights of third states, it does not comply with the Law of the Sea and cannot produce any legal consequences for third states. It is only through a genuine cooperation in good faith that natural resources in the Mediterranean will benefit all peoples living in the region.

The two Ministers also agreed on the need to expedite the implementation of the decision of the EU finalizing the listings on the regime of restrictive measures targeting those who are responsible for or are involved in the illegal drilling activity of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean.

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