Turkish Foreign Ministry: “Greek Foreign Minister’s interlocutor is Özersay not Turkey”

Spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Hami Aksoy made a statement and expressed that Greek Foreign Minister’s interlocutor is the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret Özersay.  Aksoy responded to the High Representative of the EU Josep Borrell’s proposal, which plans to bring together Turkey and the Greek Cypriot Administration.

Aksoy said that until the Cyprus issue on hydrocarbon resources is resolved, the interlocutor of the Greek Cypriots is the Turkish Cypriots.

He said that in this context, the interlocutor of the Greek Cypriot administration’s Foreign Ministry is not Turkey but Foreign Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Kudret Özersay.

Stressing the solution efforts, Aksoy said if a solution is desired in the Eastern Mediterranean issue, the two peoples on the island should come together as soon as possible to establish a common cooperation mechanism for research and operation of hydrocarbon resources, including revenue sharing.

“TRNC’s proposal on July 13, 2019 provides the necessary ground for this,” he said.

He added that the limitation of maritime jurisdiction areas in the west of the Cyprus Island is possible only after the Cyprus issue is resolved.

Aksoy stressed that Turkey will never sit at the table with the Greek Cypriot administration that has usurped the title of “the Republic of Cyprus” and does not represent the Turkish Cypriots.