Nicosia, Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriot ‘foreign ministry’ on Tuesday evening criticised a natural gas development agreement signed by the governments of Cyprus and Egypt on Monday, saying it disregards the “inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriot people”.
Claims of disregarded rights and invalidity
In a statement, it said the agreement was signed “disregarding the inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriot people” and described it as “a clear manifestation of the Greek Cypriot leadership’s persistent policy, pursued since 2003, of systematically usurping the equal rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people on the island and in the eastern Mediterranean”.
The ministry said the agreement is “entirely null and void from the perspective of the Turkish Cypriot people” because it was “concluded without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot people and disregarding their sovereign and equal status on the island”.
Statements on representation and natural resources
It said it is “clear that the Greek Cypriot administration’s continued abuse of the usurped title of ‘Republic of Cyprus’, claiming to represent the entire island and signing agreements with third countries … not only violates the legitimate rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people, but also seriously undermines stability and cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean”.
It added that “the Greek Cypriot administration has neither the authority to make decisions on the Turkish Cypriot people’s behalf, nor the unilateral right to decide on the use of the island’s natural resources”, saying “any step taken while ignoring this fact is invalid both politically and legally, and constitutes a clear violation of rights”.
Call for inclusion and warning of measures
The ministry said that “despite the unilateral and persistent initiatives taken by the Greek Cypriot side,” it reiterates that “a just order in the region based on mutual respect and cooperation can only be achieved with the inclusion and consent of the Turkish Cypriot people”.
It said, “our state … has the will to take the necessary steps in all matters concerning the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people, and will not hesitate to take the necessary political, diplomatic, and technical measures to ward against any attempt to usurp their equal and legitimate rights to natural resources”.
Appeal to third countries
The statement added that “lasting cooperation and stability on the island and in the eastern Mediterranean can only be achieved if all parties act on the basis of the sensitivities of the Cyprus issue and the equal rights and status of the two peoples on the island”.
It called on third countries to “refrain from supporting, and explicitly oppose the unilateral initiatives undertaken by the Greek Cypriot administration, which increase tension in the region, and prioritise a dialogue which includes all sides”.
What steps, if any, should third countries take in response to the Turkish Cypriot ‘foreign ministry’ statement?
