EU draft measures well short of the circumstances and aren’t proportionate to the occupying power’s actions
AKEL on EU sanctions on Turkey
Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 10 July 2019, Nicosia
The EU needs to impose substantial sanctions on Turkey for its illegal actions in the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Apart from the verbal condemnation of Turkey’s actions by the EU, solidarity with the Republic of Cyprus must be expressed in practical form. However, the measures drafted by the Commission and the European External Action Service – even if they are approved by the 28 member states – are, for the time being at least, well short of the circumstances and not proportionate to the occupying power’s actions. They are also clearly well short of what the President and Minister of Foreign Affairs have been proclaiming lately.
The government and ruling forces must at long last reflect on the situation we are in. All their assurances and pledges to the Cypriot people are being broken one after the other. Neither have Turkey’s provocative actions against the Republic of Cyprus’ sovereign rights been prevented, neither is the Cypriot EEZ being shielded through the Trilateral meetings and nor are effective sanctions being imposed on Turkey by Cyprus’ partners. Meanwhile, Turkey is consolidating new fait accompli on the ground and sea.
AKEL reiterates that what could reverse the dangerous situation that has evolved, and what we could do on our part could, is for the Greek Cypriot side to respond to the UN Secretary General’s position for a resumption of negotiations. That is to say, the President’s readiness should be expressed for a continuation the negotiations from the point where they had remained at Crans Montana, on the basis of Mr. Guterres’ Framework and with the safeguarding of the convergences. Negotiations, which, of course, to resume require that Turkey must end its provocations in the Cypriot EEZ.
Everything else is being tested and failing daily, and Turkey is exploiting the situation to create new dangers for Cyprus and the region.
