Cyprus’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, departs for Brussels on Sunday to attend the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council on Monday, where he will raise the issue of the recently signed illegal “memorandum of understanding” between Turkey and the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus on the construction of a natural gas pipeline.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kombos will denounce Turkey’s latest illegal actions, referring to the illegal “memorandum of understanding.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus condemned on Friday the signing of the illegal ”memorandum of understanding” between Turkey and the secessionist entity in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus, for the development of an undersea natural gas pipeline which will connect Trkiye with the occupied areas.
In a press release the Ministry stressed that “the ‘memorandum’ in question, which was signed during the illegal visit of the Vice President of Trkiye, Cevdet Yilmaz to the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus, constitutes yet another manifestation of Turkey’s revisionist policy in the Eastern Mediterranean and is part of the ongoing efforts to consolidate faits accomplis of the occupation and the further integration of the occupied areas with Turkey.”
The Foreign Affairs Council is expected to discuss on Monday Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, the EU’s strategic approach to the Black Sea, and the situation in the Middle East. EU Foreign Ministers will also exchange views on EU-United Nations relations and developments in Sudan, the Ministry said.
On the sidelines of the Council, Kombos will participate in the third EU-Gulf Cooperation Council High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation.
Following the Council meeting, the Cypriot Foreign Minister will also attend the Second Ministerial Meeting of the Palestinian Donor Group (PDG), which will be co-chaired by European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa.
During his stay in Brussels, Kombos is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts, the Ministry added.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.