No illegal behavior will be left unanswered, stressed Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, noting that we always seek peace, but we also protect our sovereign rights based on international law.

In a speech during a visit he paid to the Hellenic Force in Cyprus (ELDIK) army camp, last stop of his two / day official visit to Cyprus, Mitstotakis said that we live in a troubled era, full of challenges to security and stability in the wider region and added: "our message is explicit and sincere to those who question the sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus, that no illegal behavior will be left without response".

He continued by saying that "we always seek for peace and reconciliation, but we defend our sovereign rights, according to the international law and I would like to underline that we are not alone". 

>>> ΟΛΗ Η ΡΟΗ ΕΙΔΗΣΕΩΝ BRIEF ΜΕ ΕΠΙΛΕΓΜΕΝΟ ΠΕΡΙΕΧΟΜΕΝΟ <<<

He spoke about the support of the EU member states, saying that they have sent the clear message that the violation of international law and the illegal drilling in Cyprus` EEZ and the Aegan zone will have repercussions and will have a negative impact on the EU / Turkey relations.

He also said that Greece and Cyprus have very strong partnerships with countries in the wider region and noted that Turkey`s illegal actions isolate and weaken Turkey. 

The Greek Prime Minister said that his presence in Cyprus and in the ELDIK camp signifies Greece`s firm support to the Republic of Cyprus`s absolute right to exploit all the natural resources within its Exclusive Economic Zone, based on international law.

Athens has been, is and will remain firmly on Nicosia`s side and its efforts to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem, he added.

Mitsotakis said the reunification of the island should be on the basis of UN resolutions, without third party guarantors, without occupation troops on the territory of a sovereign, independent, European country.

"A solution that will bring prosperity and benefits to all Cypriot people - Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots," he said.

Concluding, he thanked the officers and soldiers of ELDIK on behalf of all Greeks for their service.

Earlier in the morning, the Greek Premier met with Archbishop Chrystostomos II. He then visited the Fylakismena Mnimata, the tombs of the heroes who lost their lives during the anti-colonial struggle against the British Rule and laid a wreath.

>>> ΔΙΑΒΑΣΤΕ ΟΛΕΣ ΤΙΣ ΕΡΕΥΝΕΣ & ΑΝΑΛΥΣΕΙΣ ΤΗΣ BRIEF <<<

Accompanied by Foreign Minister Nicos Denias and Minister of Energy Kostas Hadjidakis, he visited the Makedonitissa Tomb, the military cemetery where Greek Cypriot and Greek officers and soldiers are buried. They were killed during the 1974 Turkish invasion. There, Mitsotakis laid a wreath.

The Republic of Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The last round of negotiations, in the summer of 2017, at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
 
Turkey issued in May a navigational telex, announcing its intention to start drilling off Cyprus until September 3. Since May 4, the Turkish drill ship “Fatih” is anchored in an area that falls within the EEZ and continental shelf of the Republic of Cyprus.
 
A second Turkish drill ship, “Yavuz”, is also off the island’s eastern coast.

CNA