The French Minister of European Affairs has re-emphasised that Europe must prepare to apply sanctions against Turkey as its "provocations are not acceptable."
"Turkish provocations are not acceptable," said French Minister of State for European Affairs, Clement Beaune, who is on a working visit to Cyprus, and spoke of a clear agreement with Nicosia.
"The EU must be ready to activate all its tools for sanctions against Turkey, due to Turkish provocations in the eastern Mediterranean," he said after meeting with Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulidis, referring to the latest developments in the southeastern Mediterranean and the forthcoming European Council meeting in Brussels on September 24 and 25.
"We cannot accept accomplished events," he added, stressing that there is a consolidation for de-escalation, while the French Republic's firm position is for security and stability in the region.
For his part, Christodoulidis pointed out that "the renewal of the Turkish NAVTEX two days ago to extend the illegal drilling of YAVUZ until October 14, at a time when a series of processes and initiatives aimed at Ankara's illegal actions and de-escalation prove, once again, Turkey's real intentions."
He expressed the hope that in the coming days, at the crucial meetings to be held in Brussels, "the partners will show the same determination as France, so that together we can implement the decisions we have taken."
Describing the Cyprus-France relationship as of strategic importance, based on solid foundations, Christodoulidis warmly thanked Beaune for his visit, as well as "for the honest and productive consultations, both in terms of the provocative actions of Turkey, as well as for the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem."
The program of the French Minister includes a meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiadis, the Minister of Defense Charalambos Petridis, as well as a flight over the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone.
