According to NAVTEX readings, Turkish seismic vessel ‘Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa’ will be carrying out surveys from 24th August 24 to 2nd October offshore the Karpaz region, however it has not yet reached that area, ‘Famagusta Gazette’ reports.
The South Cyprus government has said that it will denounce the “provocative and illegal actions by Turkey” to send the Turkish Barbaros vessel offshore Cyprus before newly elected President Tayip Erdogan’s “illegal” visit to North Cyprus on 1st September.
In a written statement concerning the actions of the Turkish vessel Barbaros in the South’s Exclusive Economic Zone, Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said “our side is fully committed to the procedure to solve the Cyprus issue, a procedure that is at a critical phase and is looking for ways to overcome the obstacles”.
“In this state of affairs, the last thing one would expect from Turkey is a repetition of the provocations by Barbaros vessel in the Cyprus Republic’s EEZ”, he added.
If Turkey is sincere in its declarations about political will to help the negotiations achieve a solution, it would have avoided actions that threaten to disrupt the talks, the Spokesman remarked.
These actions, he said, “violate international law and are contrary to Turkey’s obligations as part of its negotiations for accession to the EU”.
Concluding he said the Republic of [South] Cyprus “will denounce Turkey’s provocative and illegal actions to the UN, the EU and wherever else is necessary”.
