Strong reactions in Athens to Turkish PM's statements about Cyprus

President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias sent a message to Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, expressing support in the face of Turkey's "illegal and provocative" actions, which he said violated Cyprus' sovereign rights.

"At this time when the Cyprus Republic's sovereign rights to its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are being violated in an illegal and provocative manner by Turkey, I wish to relay the unanimous support of the Hellenic Republic and the entire Greek people," Papoulias said, while stressing that the European Union must stand by Cyprus at this time.

"I express our hope and anticipation of a positive result from the actions that your government is undertaking to deal with the situation that has arisen, hoping at the same time that the European Union will actively display its solidarity," he said.

According to Greek government sources, meanwhile, Davutoglu's statements were an additional provocation.
“Unfortunately, the references made by the Turkish prime minister to scenarios of partitioning 'two states' are indicative of the true Turkish intentions,” the sources said.

The challenging by the Turkish side of the existence and international legal identity of the Republic of Cyprus constitutes gross violation of international law and an insult to the European Union, they added.

The same sources noted that Cyprus is a member of the UN, EU and the Eurozone and only Turkey refuses to realise and recognise this fact.
“It is unthinkable that a Turkish prime minister cites as a legal basis, for the illegal Turkish exploration in the Republic of Cyprus EEZ and continental shelf, the illegal and legally void 'agreement' between Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriot pseudostate. The existence of this 'agreement' constitutes no argument; it constitutes additional proof of Turkey's will to violate international law,” the same sources said.

In statements earlier on Wednesday, Davutoglu said that Turkey will continue seismic research in the Mediterranean south of Cyprus, in spite of the Cyprus government's objections and the threat that EU accession negotiations will be interrupted. It said its seismic survey vessel "Barbaros" was acting on the basis of agreements between Turkey and the illegal occupation regime in the northern part of the island, which is recognised only by Turkey.

"We have a right to carry out seismic surveys in the region and we will always exercise our rights," Davutoglu was reported as saying, while in a statement reported by the Turkish news agency Anadolu, he is quoted as saying that "Turkish Cypriots have as many rights as the Greek Cypriots to the continental shelf or Cyprus' EEZ".
The Turkish premier also noted that if the Cyprus government contested its right to carry out seismic research to the south of the island republic because the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime had occupied the north, "then we must discuss the scenario of two states".