Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou stressed Wednesday that recent statements made by Turkish President Abdullah Gul reveal Ankara’s real intentions and policy on the Cyprus problem.
The Spokesman was commenting on statements by the Turkish President, who said he had told UN Secretary General Ban Ki – moon that Ankara would come up with alternative solutions to the Cyprus problem.
“The deadlock of the Cyprus problem is due to the negative stance of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership“ Stephanou said, adding that Gul’s statements “reveal the real intentions and policy of Turkey in Cyprus“.
In statements to journalists at the Presidential Palace, the Spokesman said that Turkey’s policy at the Cyprus talks aims to prepare the ground for a plan B’ on Cyprus in order to consolidate the de facto division of the island and to upgrade the illegal Turkish occupation regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus.
Stephanou noted that the Turkish side has failed to fulfill the commitments it had made to UN Secretary General and is now attempting to cancel any agreement reached between the two sides in Cyprus – the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides – as regards the basis of the Cyprus talks.
Unlike the Turkish side, he said, the Greek Cypriot side has worked and will continue to work for a solution to the Cyprus problem, based on the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and within the agreed basis, which provides for a solution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality as defined in the UN resolutions, for one state, with a single sovereignty, one citizenship and one international personality.
Stephanou pointed out that Turkey`s policy to upgrade the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus is contrary to the UN resolutions and international law.
He furthermore noted that Turkey is causing tension in the region in response to the Republic of Cyprus’ sovereign right to explore and exploit any hydrocarbon reserves in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“We denounce Turkey’s policy and we urge the international community to work towards exerting pressure on Turkey to respect and implement the UN resolutions on Cyprus so that a solution to the Cyprus problem can be found”, he concluded.
Cyprus has been divided since the Turkish invasion in the summer of 1974. Turkey since then occupies 37% of Cyprus’ territory, situated in the north.
Peace talks are underway to find a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country, under a federal roof.
Ankara has threatened Cyprus when Nicosia launched last September its exploration activities within its EEZ.