Germany demands Turkey to respect international law

CAIRO – 21 December 2019: German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has stressed that Berlin stands in solidarity with Athens and Nicosia, calling Ankara to respect international law.

Kramp-Karrenbauer arrived in Cyprus on Wednesday for a two-day Christmas visit to the German contingent of UNFIL.

Kramp-Karrenbauer stressed the European Council’s support for Greece and Cyprus following the maritime borders agreement signed between Ankara and the Libyan government, adding that the Council is working to bring sanctions against Turkey.

The German official also met with her Cypriot counterpart, Savvas Angelidis, who told Cyprus media that Berlin has pledged to implement any targeted sanctions approved by the EU over Turkey’s illegal energy drilling operations in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone.

“Apart from Germany’s solidarity with Cyprus, the German minister said she will assume initiatives in the context of her responsibilities and on an EU level so that the EU summit decisions will be implemented giving the right messages with regard to Turkey’s behavior,” Angelides was quoted as saying.