FILE PHOTO: Turkish drilling vessel Yavuz is escorted by Turkish Navy frigate TCG Gemlik (F-492) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea off Cyprus, August 6, 2019. REUTERS/Murad Sezer
CAIRO - 5 December 2019: Cypriot Energy Minister George Lakkotrypis raised the issue of escalating Turkish violations in the Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), while addressing a meeting of the EU Energy Ministers' Council, held Thursday in Brussels, Cyprus News Agency reported.
In particular, the minister stated: “today at the Energy Council, my fellow Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Gerasimos Thomas raised the issue of the signing of the memorandum between Turkey and Libya, as announced by Turkish officials.
"My colleague explained that this was a blatant violation of international law and, of course, as Cyprus we expressed our solidarity with Greece, as the European Commission did."
Egypt has denounced Turkey's security cooperation deal between Turkey and Libya in many occasions, and denounced it as illegal.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, in a telephone call on Wednesday have agreed on the illegality of the MoUs on maritime borders and security signed between Turkey and Libya’s Prime Minister Fayez Al-Sarraj as it violates international law, an official statement read.
The security cooperation deal between Turkey and Sarraj, the prime minister of the so-called Government of National Accord and also chairman of the presidential council, violates the Skhirat agreement signed in 2015 between parties of conflict in Syria, under the supervision of the United Nations, and the Security Council resolutions which imposes a ban on the supply of weapons and military equipment to and from Libya, according to the statement.
Concerning Turkish violations against Cyprus, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades in October this year expressed gratitude to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for supporting the Cypriot people against Turkish threats.
“On behalf of the Cypriot people and the government, we express profound gratitude at the support of Egypt and its president to Cypriot efforts aimed at barring occupation and restoring the unity of Cyprus in a way that ultimately guarantees the independence and sovereignty of our homeland away from any legacy or external powers,” President Anastasiades said, in a joint press conference in Cairo with Sisi, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
MENA contributed to the reporting
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