Turkish Foreign Ministry blasts European Commission report

THE Turkish Foreign Ministry has blasted a report by the European Commission regarding Turkey, which also touched on the Cyprus issue.

According to the key findings of the European Commission’s “2022 report on Türkiye [Turkey]”, there are “serious deficiencies in the functioning of Türkiye’s democratic institutions”.

On Cyprus, the report said that “while there were no unauthorised drilling activities by Türkiye in the Eastern Mediterranean during the reporting period, tensions have been rising”.

It claimed that “Turkish warships illegally obstructed survey activity in the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone” and that “Türkiye’s military exercises in the maritime zones of Cyprus continued”, as well as stating that “Türkiye continued with its actions to further reopen the fenced-off town of Varosha [Maraş] in Cyprus”.

Responding to the report, a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement said it “reveals once again that the European Union lacks the strategic approach and the vision towards Türkiye” and that the report “ignores the obligations of the EU towards Türkiye and displays double standards” and is “yet another example of the EU’s biased stance when it comes to Türkiye”.

On the parts of the report addressing the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus issues, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said they “as usual reflect the unlawful and maximalist views of the Greek/Greek Cypriot duo”.

The statement continued: “The fact that the report, by ignoring the Turkish Cypriots and by refusing to mention the opinions of Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, reveals clearly that it has been drafted to serve the interests of some circles.

“We remind once again that the EU is not an international judicial body to determine maritime jurisdiction areas. This manner of the EU is against both its own acquis and the international law.”