The UK Foreign Office has sought to clarify its position regarding Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) following the reaction by Nicosia to Minister for Europe Sir Alan Duncan’s remark about “sovereignty under dispute”.
In reply to a request on behalf of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK by Mike Freer MP for clarification on Sir Alan’s statement, the Foreign Office initially repeated the same statement: “The position of the UK is that, in line with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, exploratory drilling should not proceed in any area where sovereignty is under dispute.”
Then it repeated the previously stated UK position on the Cypriot EEZ saying: “We recognise the sovereign right of the Republic of Cyprus to exploit the oil and gas in its internationally agreed Exclusive Economic Zone. We believe Cyprus’ oil and gas should be developed for the benefit of all Cypriots, as the Foreign Office has said before.”
The statement was described as “not clear enough” by members of the organised Cypriot diaspora in the UK. The Cyprus News Agency understands that the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK will ask the Foreign Office for more clarity.
Cyprus on Tuesday branded Sir Alan’s comment as unacceptable, as reports surfaced that the Turkish drillship located 60km west of Paphos seemed to be preparing to start drilling in the island’s waters.
“Mr Duncan has been and continues to remain unacceptable,” President Nicos Anastasiades said on Tuesday night.
“I want to believe that the appropriate step will be taken by the Prime Minister, because I believe that his whole position does not reflect the correct policy that should be followed by Great Britain, regarding all the interests it has in Cyprus, and the support Britain has received in these critical times it is going through, even if it is from our small country, which has the same vote as the others,” Anastasiades said.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Duncan had said Cyprus’ EEZ was under dispute and that drilling should not be conducted in the area.
Duncan said: “I met with the Turkish ambassador yesterday [Monday], and had a very constructive talk with him. The position of the United Kingdom is that, according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas, exploratory drilling cannot be conducted in any area in which the sovereignty is disputed.”
The post UK seeks to clarify its position on Cyprus’ EEZ following minister’s ‘unacceptable’ comment appeared first on Cyprus Mail.
Read more → https://cyprus-mail.com/2019/05/15/uk-seeks-to-clarify-its-position-on-cyprus-eez-following-ministers-unacceptable-comment/
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