Turkey should move towards de-escalation, Presidential Commissioner Photis Photiou has said, noting that international law should finally prevail.
Speaking at an event in Athens, Photiou noted the need to remain united against “the frenzy of Turkish provocations, as demonstrated lately with the escalation of Turkey’s intransigence in the Cyprus issue and its threats regarding our sovereign rights in our maritime areas and in the Aegean islands, rights that are based on international law and are non-negotiable.”
What concerns us, he added, is the revisionist attitude of the Turkish leadership and the escalation of its hostile rhetoric at a time when the international community is watching with deep concern the developments with Russia’s military invasion on the territory of Ukraine.
“International law cannot be applied differently in one case and differently in another. Both Russia and Turkey have invaded the territories of other countries and still illegally occupy parts of their territories. In both cases it is a matter of invasion, illegal occupation and violation of fundamental principles of international law, such as the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of states” he stressed.
Photiou noted that Turkey should proceed with de-escalation actions, adding that international law should finally prevail.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency