Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal Bin Farhan pledged the Kingdom’s full support to the sovereignty of Cyprus over its territories.

He made the remarks in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following his meeting with the visiting Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides at his office in Riyadh on Sunday.

Prince Faisal said that the Kingdom is following with great concern the current developments in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, showing its keenness for its security and stability.

The minister highlighted the depth of relations between the two countries, and the keenness to develop them in order to serve the common interests of both the countries in many fields.

Prince Faisal affirmed the Kingdom’s call to all parties to abide by the Security Council resolutions with regard to resolve disputes as well as to avert escalation.

“The Kingdom also seeks to respect the rules of international law and not to interfere in the internal affairs of states or attempts to impose the status quo by force as it does not serve international peace as well as the security and stability in the region,” he said.

Earlier, during the reception, Prince Faisal and Christodoulides discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and the developments on the international arena.

The reception was attended by Minister of State for African Countries Ahmed Qattan, Undersecretary for Political and Economic Affairs Dr. Adel Mardad, and the Saudi Ambassador to Cyprus Khaled Al-Sharif. The minister also hosted a luncheon banquet in honor of Christodoulides and his accompanying delegation.

Earlier, Cyprus on Sunday accused Turkey of "piracy" after Ankara announced new plans to drill for oil and gas in the divided island's maritime zone, despite the threat of EU sanctions.

"Turkey is turning into a pirate state in the eastern Mediterranean," the presidency said in a statement. "Turkey insists on going down the path of international illegality it has chosen," it said.

Ankara was "repeatedly ignoring calls by the international community, especially the European Union, to terminate its illegal activities" inside Cypriot waters.

Ankara announced Friday the drillship Yavuz would return to waters off Cyprus for drilling activities, a day after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Turkey would start gas exploration "as soon as possible".

The latest incursion into Cypriot waters was in block 8, licensed by Cyprus to energy giants Total of France and Italy's Eni, the president's office said. — With input from AFP