Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras arrived on Cyprus yesterday (11.06) to back Cyprus in the light of the latest provocative actions of Turkey on Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). On his arrival, Samaras, who is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos, underlined that "the Turkish actions in Cyprus’ EEZ are indeed provocative," adding that “Greece and Cyprus have both ranked high in their European agenda the exploitation of the hydrocarbon resources that have been discovered in their waters.”

After a working dinner with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, the Greek premier criticized Turkey’s decision to send the Barbaros seismic research vessel into Cyprus’s EEZ. "Unfortunately, Turkey has once again chosen to follow a policy that has no relation to international law," he said and expressed his support to Anastasiades’ decision to abstain from [reunification] talks until other conditions prevail."

Today (11.07) Samaras is scheduled to fly to Cairo, where he, Anastasiades and the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will hold a summit on Saturday (11.08). The summit is expected to focus on energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.