Cyprus has rejected another attempt by Turkey to legalise its 1974 invasion and occupation, after Ankara sent a 'note verbale' to the United Nations based on an unrecognised maritime demarcation agreement with the Turkish-Cypriot administration.
Turkey - which has not signed the Law of the Sea - is trying to legalise the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus', the de facto separatist entity in the north. As the result of Turkey's violent invasion in 1974, the state is not recognised in international law by any country other than Turkey.
The government has condemned Turkey's action, said spokesman Nikos Christoulides.
“The ‘agreement’ does not have any legal validity in the international legal order and it is therefore legally nonexistent and invalid," he said.
In addition, Ankara's timing is interfering with ongoing reunification talks between the Greek-and-Turkish Cypriots, said Mr. Christodoulides.
Simmering tensions over gas-and-oil exploration rights
On September 21st, 2011, Turkey and the 'TRNC' signed a sea border deal and a few days later sent the K. Piri Reis seismic research vessel to start looking for undersea gas-and-oil reserves in Cyprus waters. The ship was accompanied by a Turkish warship.
US company Noble Energy started exploring for gas reserves with its Israeli partner DELEK in Cyprus' Block 12 on September 19th, 2011. In response, Turkey threatened to boost its naval presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, claiming that Cyprus' agreement on maritime borders with Israel is null-and-void, and asserting the right to 'freedom of navigation.
Turkey - which has not signed the Law of the Sea - is trying to legalise the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus', the de facto separatist entity in the north. As the result of Turkey's violent invasion in 1974, the state is not recognised in international law by any country other than Turkey.
The government has condemned Turkey's action, said spokesman Nikos Christoulides.
“The ‘agreement’ does not have any legal validity in the international legal order and it is therefore legally nonexistent and invalid," he said.
In addition, Ankara's timing is interfering with ongoing reunification talks between the Greek-and-Turkish Cypriots, said Mr. Christodoulides.
Simmering tensions over gas-and-oil exploration rights
On September 21st, 2011, Turkey and the 'TRNC' signed a sea border deal and a few days later sent the K. Piri Reis seismic research vessel to start looking for undersea gas-and-oil reserves in Cyprus waters. The ship was accompanied by a Turkish warship.
US company Noble Energy started exploring for gas reserves with its Israeli partner DELEK in Cyprus' Block 12 on September 19th, 2011. In response, Turkey threatened to boost its naval presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, claiming that Cyprus' agreement on maritime borders with Israel is null-and-void, and asserting the right to 'freedom of navigation.
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