Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos today briefed the Acting President of the Republic of Cyprus, House Speaker Yiannakis Omirou, on the Greek-Turkish High-Level Cooperation Council that took place in Athens on 5 and 6 December, and on his previous visit to Ankara.

Mr. Venizelos underscored that the core of the issue is always the recognition of the existence, the national sovereignty and the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus.

Thus, what is of primary importance is that the violation of the Cypriot EEZ and continental shelf by the Turkish vessel Barbaros cease, making possible the reopening of the intercommunal talks.