Statement of the deputy spokesperson of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Paris, October 5th 2019
Cyprus
The arrival of a new Turkish drilling ship in the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus and international law. This is an unfriendly move, likely to encourage an escalation of tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.
The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs had the opportunity to discuss this situation with his Cypriot counterpart. He expressed France’s full and complete solidarity.
The October 14th Foreign Affairs Council will examine these developments and the consequences to be drawn from them, in the wake of its July 15th conclusions.