Press Releases

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for your long-standing support to our efforts for a just and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem, and also for the inclusion of a paragraph on this issue in the CHOGM Final Communiqué. 

It is extremely important for us that the Commonwealth remains seized of this matter and continues to publicly express its solidarity to the Republic of Cyprus in its quest for reunification and lasting peace. 

Of particular importance these days is the expression of solidarity in the exercise of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus in its Exclusive Economic Zone under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. And this is because very recently the Republic of Cyprus faced escalated aggressive, illegal behavior by Turkey in our Exclusive Economic Zone. Turkey’s behavior not only violates the Republic of Cyprus’ sovereign rights and is contrary to international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, but also poses a broader security threat in the fragile area of the Eastern Mediterranean; it needs to be addressed as a severe infringement of the sovereign rights of a member state of the Commonwealth. 

I therefore thank you for including this issue in the Final Communiqué and for expressing your support and solidarity to the Republic of Cyprus in the exercise of the sovereign rights in its Exclusive Economic Zone. Turkey must immediately cease its threats and illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean, refrain from such threats and actions in the future and respect Cyprus’ sovereign rights to explore and exploit its natural resource in its Exclusive Economic Zone.

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RM/ΜΚΥ/II