Ministry slams EU over their Cyprus stance
THE TRNC’s Foreign Ministry has slammed EU countries for their stance on Cyprus. European Affairs ministers of the “EU MED7” group – South Cyprus, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Malta, Portugal – last week issued a joint statement following a meeting in Athens that said they “deplore” the two-state solution model for Cyprus proposed by President Ersin Tatar and Turkey.
They said it remains “crucial” that Turkey “commits” to a bizonal bicommunal federal solution “in line with UN Resolutions” and also expressed their “grave concern” over “violations” regarding Maraş, also known as Varosha.
The EU MED7 ministers also called on Turkey to “accept the invitation by [South] Cyprus to engage in dialogue on the delimitation of the maritime zones between their relevant coasts, including by submitting the issue to the International Court of Justice”.
Responding on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry said that the references to Cyprus “do not reflect the political or legal realities on the island, thus demonstrating once again that the said EU countries will not be able to uphold impartiality in this regard”.
The Greek Cypriot side has caused all past attempts to forge a federation to fail, the Foreign Ministry underlined, with the aim of “perpetuating the status quo that emerged following the destruction of the 1960 ‘Partnership Republic’ through force of arms by the Greek Cypriots”.
Negotiations to reach a federal settlement, “which have been rejected by the Greek Cypriot side at every opportunity”, have been “exhausted”.
The Foreign Ministry statement went on: “The insistence on a federal settlement by the EU countries . . . is incompatible with current realities and tantamount to openly supporting the status quo, creating a comfort zone for the Greek Cypriot side.
“In line with the call of the United Nations Secretary General, the Turkish Cypriot side has registered its ‘outside the box’ and creative ideas at the 5+UN informal meeting [in April], which reflect the realities on the island, and has displayed its readiness to negotiate a cooperative relationship on the basis of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the two States.
“As the co-owner of the island and its natural resources, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has made constructive proposals to establish cooperation for a win-win approach in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“These proposals are still on the table. However, the Greek Cypriot side persists in its provocative actions which prevent stability and prosperity in the region, continuing to ignore the legitimate rights and interests of the TRNC and Republic of Turkey.
“Unfortunately, by endorsing the aforementioned statement, the said EU countries are encouraging the maximalist approach of the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus.
“We wish to reiterate that the closed area of Maraş, which has become a symbol of the status quo on the island, is part of the TRNC’s territory. Our initiative regarding the closed area of Maraş will continue within the framework of international law.
“Our State, along with Motherland Turkey, will protect and defend our national cause and our legitimate rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean. Following acknowledgement of the fact that there exist two sovereign equal States, the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to participate constructively in possible negotiations on the new basis, towards establishing a cooperative relationship.”
The Turkish Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Ambassador Tanju Bilgiç, said in response to a question from a reporter that the EU MED7 statement “holds no value and merits” for Turkey.
“The one-sided and biased approach repeated every year by this body, which advocates the maximalist claims and policies of Greek Cypriot-Greek duo on Cyprus and [the] Eastern Mediterranean, can by no means contribute to peace and stability and enhance cooperation in the region,” he said.
“As previously stated, a genuine cooperation environment cannot be achieved in the region without Turkey and the [TRNC].
“We would like to remind once again on this occasion the proposal of his Excellency Mr Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey, for a regional conference on Eastern Mediterranean.”