Korneliou said that as soon as the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated, the Republic of Cyprus expressed readiness to contribute to the mission of the rescue team: "We got the answer from Turkey, 'Thank you but we won't take it'."
"There is the issue of non-recognition and it seems that in matters of natural disasters and human tragedies, the political position often prevails," he said. 
“We express our sincere condolences to the families of the victims,” the statement said. “Natural disasters do not distinguish people and nationalities.
“We stand in solidarity with all those suffering and the families of the victims and we are ready to contribute to the humanitarian efforts of the international community.”