EU tells Turkey not to threaten Cyprus
Fri Sep 9, 2011 12:04pm EDT
* EU says Turkish threats against Cyprus counterproductive
* Turkey struggles along path to EU membership
BRUSSELS, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The European Union told Turkey on Friday not to issue threats against Cyprus after Turkish Prime Minister's Tayyip Erdogan questioned the validity of oil exploration contracts granted by the divided island.
"The EU urges Turkey to refrain from any kinds of threats, sources of friction that could negatively affect good neighbourly relations and the peaceful settlement of border disputes," a spokeswoman for the EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told reporters.
Maja Kocijancic said Turkey should work towards a "comprehensive" solution to a conflict between Turkey and EU member Cyprus over the northern part of the Mediterranean island.
Turkey, which hopes to become an EU member, invaded the northern third of Cyprus in 1974 after a Greek-inspired coup on the island. Turkish Cypriots declared independence in 1984.
Turkey is the only country to recognise the north as a state and the row
with Cyprus is a major obstacle on its path towards the EU.
Erdogan issued the veiled criticism of Cyprus during a television interview on Thursday, in which he said Ankara would send warships to escort aid vessels to Gaza in a step up of confrontation between Turkey and Israel.
He said Turkey, a NATO member, has taken steps to patrol the Mediterranean, and vowed to stop the Jewish state from exploiting natural resources in the area.
"You know that Israel has begun to declare that it has the right to act in exclusive economic areas in the Mediterranean," Erdogan said, apparently in reference to Israeli plans to exploit offshore gas reserves found in areas that are also claimed by Lebanon.
"You will see that it will not be the owner of this right, because Turkey, as a guarantor of the Turkish republic of north Cyprus, has taken steps in the area, and it will be decisive and holding fast to the right to monitor international waters in the east Mediterranean," he said.
Turkey argues the oil deals are illegal as the borders of Cyprus remain undetermined while Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots pursue reunification talks. (Reporting byJustyna Pawlak; Editing by Jon Hemming)
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