The increased Turkish air and naval activity in the Eastern Mediterranean clearly signals that Ankara is determined to pursue its strategic goals in the region and is prepared to enforce this through military means, Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Christodoulides has said.
Christodoulides was the main speaker of a special event organized via ZOOM by the International Coordinating Committee “Justice for Cyprus” (PSEKA), to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the Turkish Invasion. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Elliot Engel, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee, Bob Menendez, Ranking Democrat at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ted Deutch, chairman, House Middle East Subcommittee, Congressman Chris Smith and David Harris, CEO of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) have also spoken.
Philip Christopher, President of PSEKA and Andy and Mike Manatos of Manatos & Manatos were the moderators, while greeting were made by the Presidents of AHEPA, George Horiates, American Hellenic Institute (AHI), Nick Larigakis, Federation of Cypriot American Organizations Kyriakos Papastylianou and Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) executive director Endy Zemenides.
In opening the event, PSEKA President Philip Christopher condemned the continued occupation and islamisation of the occupied north part of Cyprus. Philip Christopher said that today Turkey continues to violate Cyprus’ EEZ and creates problems with every neighboring country.
“Turkey has become an unreliable and uncontrollable ally of the United States and it is time for us as American citizens to demand Turkey to be held accountable”, the President of PSEKA said.
Christodoulides said the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus is undoubtedly a turning point and an open wound in the history of the country and its people.
“Turkey found the pretext to impose its partitionist plans against Cyprus following the coup of July 15, 1974, and viciously invaded Cyprus, violating all rules of international legality, including the UN Charter. The consequences, devastating and enduring”, he said.
Minister Christodoulides described the tragic results of the invasion and occupation, with close to 200.000 Greek Cypriots forcibly and tragically displaced and to this day prevented from returning to their homes; thousands of Greek Cypriots killed, with a number still missing, including US citizens, their families still looking for answers purposefully held back by the Turkish government and military.
“The implementation, in violation of international law, of a deliberate policy of altering the demographic, cultural and religious character of the occupied areas. Turkey’s recent arbitrary decision to change the status of Hagia Sophia, in an effort to distract public opinion internally, despite reaction by the international community, is unfortunately all too familiar for us in Cyprus”, Christodoulides said, condemning the colonization of the occupied areas with more that 160,000 settlers from Anatolia, while 40,000 Turkish occupying troops are still illegally stationed in Cyprus.
Addressing the new Turkish aggression against Cyprus, in the sea surrounding the island, he said, that instead Turkey in this challenging times of the fight against the pandemic to come together to fight the common enemy, it has opted to take advantage of the situation, further escalating its provocative, illegal actions.
“In what can only be described as severe escalation of Turkey’s policy of violations of the sovereign rights of Cyprus, Turkey’s 6th illegal drilling operation in less than a year is underway. This time Turkey’s actions take place within a block in our EEZ just 51 NM off the southwestern shores of Cyprus, and 154 NM – that is triple the distance – from the shores of Turkey. This is a block duly licensed by Cyprus to European companies, and within an area delimited, fully in line with international law, between Cyprus and Egypt.”
The Foreign Minister underlined that this activity, coupled with heavy militarization of the seas around the island by the Turkish navy, is putting the security and stability of the region at risk.
He also explained that Turkey’s provocations do not take place in a vacuum, but rather aim to promote Erdogan’s hegemonic ambitions.
“There can be no doubt that Turkey’s actions in the maritime zones of Cyprus form part of its overall revisionist policy exemplified, by its expansionist action in Syria, its interventions in Libya, its recent invasion in Iraq, as well as its illegal actions in Greece’s maritime zones and airspace.”
Christodoulides also mentioned Turkish military involvement in Libya, noting that the increased Turkish air and naval activity in Eastern Med clearly signals that Ankara is determined to pursue its strategic goals in the region and is prepared to enforce this through military means.
“Turkey’s employment of gunboat diplomacy, its aggressive neo-Ottoman vision, its belligerence against rule of law must alarm the international community that needs respond in a coherent, firm manner to Mr. Erdogan’s increasingly authoritarian, erratic behaviour.”
The Cypriot Foreign Minister called Turkey a dangerous spoiler in an area where many nations come together in cooperation.
“It is simply not enough for the international community to verbally reject Turkey’s actions. It must act in solidarity, and with determination, before it is too late. The United States, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and a key player, has a particularly important role to play in exerting its influence on Turkey to de-escalate, not only in support of its partners, but also for the benefit of the whole region, and to protect its own interests, which are at stake”, Christodoulides said.
In closing, he mentioned the significant steps that have been taken in recent years in elevating Cyprus-United States relations.
“Cyprus has invested significant political capital in our relations with the United States because we believed in the importance of tangibly enhancing our long-standing partnership to a strategic level, always on a positive agenda, to the mutual benefit of both countries and of our region.”.
He pointed out specifically to the importance of the security dialogue which has been expanded with many of our neighbours.
“We have become increasingly involved with a common purpose to enhance the stability and peace in the eastern Mediterranean. In short, the developments of the last few years in the field of security in our very volatile part of the world have shown Cyprus to be a reliable partner in the regional security structures. Mr. Erdogan’s revisionist, aggressive policy threatens all that has been achieved in the region. The international community, the United States, have a duty not to allow Mr. Erdogan to transform the region into a source of conflict and destabilization.”
Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi described as unjust the continuing Turkish occupation of part of Cyprus stressing that for 46 years, the forced division of the island has challenged the conscience of the world.
“There are no quick fixes to this complex issue, but we must continue advancing a balanced reunification that considers the concerns of all of the people of Cyprus. As a long-time member of the Hellenic caucus, the just reunification of Cyprus has been a top priority for many of us in both sides of the aisle”, Speaker Pelosi said.
Referring to Turkey, Nancy Pelosi said that “its strategic location does not give them license to kill and to invade; license to uproot; license to violate human rights. We just have to hold them accountable.”
Pelosi praised the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act that became law last December, because it fosters stronger ties between U.S., Israel, Greece and Cyprus and facilitates energy sector cooperation and mutual security and prosperity.
“We are pleased that the FY2021 appropriations bill builds on the Act with a 2 million dollars for Eastern Mediterranean partnership joint dialogues between the governments of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel,” Pelosi said.
In concluding, the Speaker of the House said the House Democrats are united in the effort to find a resolution, hold Turkey accountable for this illegal occupation and end this injustice.
“Together we can build a future where the Cypriot people can live in peace and where the children can grow and thrive.”
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.