by KG/XINHUA Greek government expressed strong objections on Monday over the presence of Turkish research vessel Barbaros off Cyprus island within the Cypriot exclusive economic zone, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry. Two weeks ago, Ankara had announced its plans to search for oil and gas in zones where drilling licenses have already been issued by the Greek Cypriot side. In response to Turkey's announcement, the Republic of Cyprus had suspended talks on reunifying the ethnically divided island and Greece had called on Turkey to not provoke tensions in the region. "Unfortunately, Turkey did not listen to the voice of the international community, did not listen to the voice of the UN and the European Union, did not listen to the voice of international legality," Greece's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos said on Monday. According to Athens, the core of the case is Turkey's refusal to recognize the existence and the international legal personality of the Republic of Cyprus. "Turkey is undermining the dialogue in Cyprus and creating a crisis hotspot at a time when the international community's attention is focused -- and must be focused -- on Kobani, on ISIS, on the fight against international terrorism and the crises Europe is facing in its southern and eastern neighbourhoods," he added. The statement concluded with a call on Turkey "to reverse course." The island of Cyprus has been divided since 1974 after Turkish military intervened and controlled the north of Cyprus following a coup on the island by the military junta then ruling Greece. Until today Ankara does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus and over the past two years objects to energy search and exploitation plans off the island's coasts by the Greek Cypriot side. Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots resumed United Nations-mediated peace negotiations for the resolution of the Cyprus issue in February this year after a two-year break.
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