Cyprus has lodged a protest against Turkey’s “provocative actions” within its Exclusive Economic Zone to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
In a letter circulated as an official document of the UN General Assembly, Cyprus’ Permanent Representative to the UN Kornelios Korneliou focused on the illegal activities of Turkish research vessel Barbaros.
“On 18 October 2018, the Turkish State-owned survey vessel Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa and supporting vessels, accompanied and supported by Turkish warships, commenced seismic surveys in the southwest areas of the continental shelf/EEZ of Cyprus, including within parts of hydrocarbon exploration blocks 4 and 5,” Korneliou said.
“The area has purportedly been reserved for seismic surveys by Turkey, via an unauthorized navigational warning dated 16 October, for the period from 18 October 2018 to 1 February 2019,” he noted.
The Cypriot diplomat said this “constitutes a violation by Turkey of the sovereign rights of Cyprus under international law and, in particular, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the relevant provisions of which have long been crystallized into customary international law.”
“Turkey has no legal standing whatsoever to conduct exploration activities with respect to the natural resources of the island without the express consent of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus,” Korneliou added.
Nicosia argues that such behaviour by Turkey “increases tensions, putting at risk the peace and security of the region”.
The Republic of Cyprus declared an EEZ in 2004 and signed EEZ delimitation
agreements with Egypt, Lebanon and Israel.
Korneliou reminded the UN that Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides has “invited Turkey to enter into negotiations with Cyprus with a view to reaching an agreement on the delimitation of our respective maritime zones”.
“Cyprus holds the view that the two States should engage in meaningful negotiations conducted in good faith so as to reach an agreement, as prescribed by international law, contributing, thus, to the establishment of a stable and secure environment in the eastern Mediterranean,” Korneliou said.
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