Barnet MPs, Theresa Villiers and Matthew Offord, have written to Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, urging him to condemn the violation of the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone by Turkey.
Turkish ships entered the EEZ following a declaration by Ankara that it intended to commence drilling for hydrocarbon extraction.
Ms Villiers raised this issue in Parliament this morning and the move by Turkey has also been heavily criticised by other elected representatives in the UK and elsewhere. “I condemn this violation of the Cyprus EEZ and it is shocking that a NATO ally is responsible,” Theresa said following her intervention on the floor of the House of Commons.
“Only the Cyprus Government has the legal right to authorise drilling activities within its EEZ. Members of the British Cypriot community, including in my constituency, are deeply worried about this EEZ violation. That is why I raised it in Parliament.”
“It will be impossible for talks on a settlement to resume while tensions are inflamed in this way by Turkey. This is further important reason why Turkey should cease this incursion and start to respect the sovereign right of Cyprus to safeguard its Exclusive Economic Zone.”
“I and my colleague, Matthew Offord, are raising this with the Foreign Secretary to call on him to condemn what Turkey has done. Mike Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, has also intervened.”
