TRNC, Turkey blast GreeceS Cyprus-Egypt declaration
THE foreign ministries of the TRNC and Turkey have slammed a joint declaration issued by Greece, South Cyprus and Egypt following their ninth “Trilateral Summit”, in Athens.
Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met in the Greek capital on Tuesday to review work in the “various areas of our cooperation” and noted that “significant progress has been achieved”.
The declaration said, among other things, that the three leaders “condemned the illegal drilling and seismic operations by Turkish vessels in Cyprus’s exclusive economic zone/continental shelf”.
The men also discussed the Cyprus issue and “reaffirmed our strong support to a just, comprehensive and viable settlement in line with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions that call for a bizonal, bicommunal federation with a single sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship as well as in accordance with the EU acquis, values and principles”.
The declaration “condemned the announcement in Cyprus by Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leaders on 20 July 2021 on the further reopening of a part of the fenced-off area of Varosha [Maraş], called for the immediate reversal of this course of action and the reversal of all steps taken on Varosha since October 2020 and stressed the importance of full respect and implementation of its Resolutions, including the transfer of Varosha to UN administration.”
The three countries also “welcomed the signing of the agreement for the establishment of a trilateral electricity interconnector between the grids of Egypt, Cyprus and Greece”.
In response, a written statement from the TRNC Foreign Ministry said: “The matters included in the joint
statement . . . do not reflect the political and legal realities on the island.
“There are two separate States on the island of Cyprus: one is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the other one is the Greek Cypriot Administration. The statements made and the decisions taken by these two States are binding only on themselves.
“The joint statement of the Greek Cypriot side with Greece and Egypt is null and void for the TRNC. We would like to underline once again that the counterpart of the Greek Cypriot Administration and other parties in matters related to the Cyprus issue is the TRNC. “The aforementioned joint statement aims to distort the facts. First of all, the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean is a result of the unilateral activities of the Greek Cypriot side. It will also be remembered that the first provocative act of the Greek Cypriot side was the unilateral agreement signed with Egypt on the delimitation of maritime borders. “We condemn Egypt’s support for the policy of the Greek Cypriot side, which violates the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people.” The statement stressed that the TRNC “cannot remain silent regarding the attempts of the Greek Cypriot Administration, Greece and other third parties trying to violate our rights” and that the TRNC is “determined to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people together with Motherland Turkey”.
It added: “Turkish Petroleum Corporation will continue to carry out its activities on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot people in the areas licensed by our Government. The unilateral activities of the Greek Cypriot side will be reciprocated with equivalent and simultaneous steps.”
TURKEY’S STATEMENT
A statement from Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said: “The declaration . . . is a new manifestation of the hostile policies of the Greek/Greek Cypriot duo towards Turkey and the TRNC.
“The participation of Egypt in this declaration on the other hand is an indication that Egypt has not yet grasped the real address that it can cooperate with in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“We have proven to friends and foes alike that no initiative excluding Turkey and TRNC will succeed in the region.
“Turkey supports energy projects that will enhance cooperation among the countries in the region. However, these projects should not ignore the rights and interests of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots and they should be inclusive.
“Contrary to the allegations in the declaration, the main source of tension in the region is the Greek/Greek Cypriot duo’s maximalist and unlawful maritime jurisdiction area claims and their total disregard of the Turkish Cypriots.
“The necessary response was given to the recent attempts of this duo aiming to violate our continental shelf in order to increase tension in the Eastern Mediterranean. We will continue to resolutely protect both our own rights and the rights of Turkish Cypriots.
“On the other hand, we support the statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus concerning the said joint declaration. An understanding that rejects the realities on the island could not contribute to the settlement of the Cyprus issue.
“We remind once again that a new negotiation process will not be possible unless the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people are reaffirmed.”