Greece has responded today with a strict statement, issued this evening by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to what it calls “the sad paradox” that Turkey is “provoking tension” by not recognizing the Republic of Cyprus’s, legal and sovereign rights to conduct research for natural gas and petroleum within its Exclusive Economic Zone maritime blocks.
This, according to the Greek Foreign Ministry clearly “undermines the negotiation process for the resolution of the Cyprus issue” especially now that the UN Special Envoy has just taken up his duties, and also while the international community’s attention is focused on the struggle against the Islamic state, on dealing with many crisis hotspots in the Middle East and Northern Africa.
“The Republic of Cyprus is an independent and sovereign state, a member of the UN and the European Union, that exercises sovereignty and sovereign rights, in accordance with international law” says Athens, underlining that Ankara has systematically refused to accept “ this reality” and to see that the Republic of Cyprus can exercise these rights which include “the maritime zones provided for by the Law of the Sea; more specifically, the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf”.
Furthermore, the Greek government states Cyprus has “repeatedly made it crystal clear”, and recently by President Anastasiades personally, that “the benefits accruing from the exploitation of the Republic of Cyprus’ offshore mineral wealth belong to all Cypriot citizens”. Moreover, it is also stressed in the statement by the Greek government that “within the framework of the agreed solution that is being pursued on the Cyprus problem”, competency for issues concerning the exploitation of natural resources and mineral wealth, as well as matters pertaining to the exercising of sovereign rights, “will belong to the central government”.
“It is thus totally contradictory that the Republic of Cyprus should be accused by Turkey for basic moves activating its sovereign rights and exploitation of mineral wealth to the benefit of all the Cypriot people, when it is Turkey that, through its illegal NAVTEX, threatens to compromise these sovereign rights”.
Athens also sees a paradox in the fact that, as it says, Turkey should turn its criticism against Greece regarding the Cyprus issue.
“It is not Greece that is accused internationally for the military invasion and the illegal occupation” of more than 40% of the territory in northern Cyprus “and the also illegal settlement” of citizens shipped from mainland Turkey.
The statement issued by the Foreign Office in Athens says that Greece is playing “a constructive role” in the ongoing negotiations between representatives of the two communities in Cyprus, so “Turkey should not judge others based on its own conduct”, seeing Greece’s stance on the Cyprus issue or its relationship with the Republic of Cyprus “as being the same as its own position, its own responsibility, and its own potential for exerting influence on the Turkish Cypriot Community, in the name of which it issues announcements”.
Therefore, “if Turkey wants to, it can contribute effectively to the new talks between the two leaders”.
