Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (22.10.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu said that every step taken by the Greek Cypriot – Greek duo is being followed by Turkey and them, and the necessary evaluations are being made.
In a written statement issued by his “office”, Eroglu called on the Greek Cypriot side to return to the negotiating table for a solution instead of following a policy on taking once more advantage of this crisis.
Reminding that the “continental shelf delimitation agreement between Turkey and the TRNC” (translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus), Eroglu said that the activities of the Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa vessel are within the framework of transferring authority by the “government” to the TPAO (Turkish Petroleum Corporation, the national oil company of Turkey). He added that the declaration by the Greek Cypriot side for Barbaros’ activities as illegal does not agree with the realities.
Eroglu said: “Our people should not worry”, adding that he continues his efforts to protect their rights without deviating from their vision supporting an agreement taking under consideration the security, the prosperity and happiness of the Turkish Cypriot “people”. He repeated that they follow the latest developments from diplomatic and military aspects, so nobody should worry about it. He added that they clarify down to the last detail with accurateness. He claimed that their stance, their willing for settlement and their proposals are clear, but they cannot consent to the violation of their rights.
Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriot side is closely following the decisions of the Cyprus National Council, the Israeli and Russian naval exercises in the East Mediterranean and the diplomatic or political measures that the Greek Cypriot side will take in response.
Noting that the Turkish Cypriot side is continuing its work to counter any possible steps or political initiatives to be taken by the Greek Cypriot side, Eroglu claimed that it is the Greek Cypriot side which is responsible for the current situation.
Reminding that the Turkish Cypriot side has twice proposed to the Greek Cypriot side to take up the issue of hydrocarbons at a joint committee and that the Greek Cypriot side has rejected both proposals, Eroglu alleged that the Greek Cypriot side’s excuse to abandon the talks on the ground that its sovereignty has been violated is meaningless, particularly in line with the fact that Turkey and the “TRNC” are not signatory parties to the 1982 Convention on the Law of Sea.
Eroglu alleged: “We have already agreed with the Greek Cypriot side at the negotiating table that any natural resources will be jointly owned by the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots, that their management will be under the authority of the federal government and that the agreements regarding their management will have to be approved by the parliament with a qualified majority vote which will safeguard the rights of the Turkish Cypriot side. When this is the situation, the Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral sovereignty claim is proof of its insincerity. According to the established principles of the Law of the Sea, in semi-enclosed seas like the Eastern Mediterranean, the restriction of sea areas would only be possible by determination of provinces through agreements between the related coast states.” Eroglu also claimed that the stance adopted by the Greek Cypriot side is not right since it has not signed such an agreement with the “TRNC” and Turkey.
Alleging that as a result of the “intransigent approach” of the Greek Cypriot side, the Turkish Cypriot side has signed a “continental shelf delineation agreement” with motherland Turkey, Eroglu said that the “TRNC government” had issued a licence to the TPAO.
“The surveys conducted by the Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa vessel are within this context and the Greek Cypriot side’s claims that these are illegal do not reflect the realities. Our people should have their mind at rest. The safety, prosperity and happiness of the Turkish Cypriot people are being protected and efforts towards protecting our rights without deviating from our vision for peace and a solution are continuing”, Eroglu concluded.
