Osman Örek commemorated today
24 March, 2017Burcu: “The elimination of the commemoration of the Enosis Plebiscite in schools will enable the resumption of the negotiation process”
24 March, 2017The Spokesperson of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Hüseyin Müftüoğlu has urged the Greek Cypriot side, which refuses to accept the Turkish Cypriots as politically equal partners on the island, to refrain from acting as the sole owner of the island’s natural resources.
The Spokesperson Müftüoğlu made the statements in response to Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades’ meetings with the representatives of a hydrocarbon company in the USA earlier this week.
Müftüoğlu pointed to press reports that Anastasiades met with representatives of one of the hydrocarbon companies that took part in the Greek Cypriot Administration’s third international tender within its so-called exclusive economic zone, on 22 March. He said that these contacts demonstrate once again how the Greek Cypriot Administration disregards, in its unilateral pursuit of hydrocarbon-related activities, the inalienable rights on natural resources of the Turkish Cypriot people, the co-owners of the island. In this context, Müftüoğlu also reminded those present that the Greek Cypriot Administration approved the signing of exploration and exploitation contracts for three separate areas with several companies, including the relevant US company at the 17 March meeting of its Council of Ministers.
Müftüoğlu stated that this attitude shows the Greek Cypriot Administration is still not able to grasp the win-win potential for economic cooperation that can ensue on the island and in the Eastern Mediterranean from a comprehensive settlement, towards which the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey have been redoubling their efforts. He said: “In previous years, such activities have led to the failure of efforts towards a comprehensive settlement. We also make use of this opportunity to remind once again that Turkey will take all necessary measures to protect its interests in the Eastern Mediterranean as well as the rights of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.”