The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, described on Monday 12 October, the issue on the day before of a new Navtex for the seismic exploration vessel Oruç Reis so that it could carry out activities south of the island of Kastellorizo until 22 October as “regrettable”.
“This will lead to new tensions instead of contributing to the efforts of appeasement that we are calling for”, he explained at the end of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg.
Referring also to the opening to the public of Varosha beach in the north of the island of Cyprus, in violation of the United Nations-sponsored ceasefire agreements (see EUROPE 12576/23), Mr Borrell said that the reopening “undermines mutual trust”, increases tensions and should be reversed.
“For us, it is vitally important that the UN-led efforts on the settlement of the Cyprus issue be resumed as soon as possible”, he said, hoping that this would be the case as soon as 18 October and the end of the second round of the presidential elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognised only by Turkey.
According to the High Representative, the European Council, scheduled for 15 and 16 October, will again discuss Turkey. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)