2-16-07, 8:52 am

We would like to draw your attention to the threats and attempted intimidations by Turkey against the Republic of Cyprus and inform you of the reactions of our party, AKEL, as well as of the relevant representation made by the Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations addressed to the SG and the president of the Security Council.

After the government of the Republic of Cyprus signed last week an agreement with Lebanon for the facilitation of future oil and gas exploration in the region, following the last year's agreement with Egypt, Turkey and the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community reacted by launching threats. More specific, Ankara issued several warnings that Cyprus should not go ahead with any plans to explore oil and gas around the island, claiming that 'the rights and interests of all parties should be taken into account'. Provocations were also reflected by several tension-oriented articles published recently in the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot press on the issue.

What should also be noted is that early reports had claimed that Turkey sent battleships to the region to show that it was determined to 'safeguard its rights' in the Eastern Mediterranean. This caused the imminent reaction of several actors of the international community. You can find below the statement of Antros Kyprianou on behalf of AKEL and the letter sent on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus by the Permannet Representative to the UN. Stavri Kalopsidiotou (on behalf of the AKEL Delegation in GUE/NGL)

============================== Statement of Andros Kyprianou, Press Spokesman of the C.C. of AKEL, Nicosia 3/2/2007

We welcome the statement of the European Commission that the Republic of Cyprus has the sovereign right to use its natural resources as it itself judges. At the same time however we note that unfortunately the European Commission carefully avoids condemning the provocative and unacceptable threats which Turkey has launched against the Republic of Cyprus.

A corrective move has been made by the American embassy in Nicosia regarding previous statements that had been made by the USA. The statements issued up till now by the USA are very contradictory. In our opinion this is the consequence of the attempt by the United States to avoid condemning the threats made by Turkey.

We want both the USA but also the EU to take positions on matters of principle in an unambiguous and clear-cut way.