Foreign Minister of Cyprus and Greece, Ioannis Kasoulides and Nikos Dendias, underlined on Tuesday that their countries will not adopt the same aggressive policy that Turkey has been following against them. Moreover, they once against denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In a televised address during the Economic 18th Annual Cyprus Summit during a discussion on “The Eastern Mediterranean region amidst a global geopolitical upheaval”, Kasoulides said that “we are not going to follow Turkey down the institutional and political slope, as we will not walk on the path of rhetorical insanity, but on the path of rationality and international law.”
Moreover he said that at the same time he has no intention to compromise and accept the protracted stagnation which leads to the partition of Cyprus.
Kasoulides said that instead of concentrating on examining the initiatives of our side and contribute to the settlement of the Cyprus problem, Turkey is trying to make Turkish Cypriots its “political offshoot.”
Referring to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Cyprus’ Foreign Minister said that “Cyprus and Ukraine are on similar paths, since what is happening today in the heart of Europe has been taking place in Cyprus for 48 consecutive years. What has changed is the invader and the time which has passed by,” he added .
He went on to say that “the war in Ukraine gave Cyprus the opportunity to prove that it is a reliable partner within the EU, as we have condemned the invasion from the very first day.” He also noted that Cyprus has sent the greatest humanitarian assistance, it has ever sent to a third country since its establishment, to Ukraine.
Moreover, he said that Cyprus is a pillar of stability and security in the turbulent Eastern Mediterranean region.
Kasoulides further noted the upsurge of Turkish rhetoric against Greece and Cyprus, saying it does not contribute in the slightest to build peaceful, secure and prosperity conditions in the region.
He said that over the years, Turkey has proven to be an extremely difficult, unpredictable, and distrustful partner due to its constant threats to impose its expansionist policy and its unreasonable territorial and maritime claims. A policy described “by shamelessness insolence and political bulimia,” he added
He further stated that the insistence on a two-state solution in Cyprus and the request for recognition of a sovereign equality status for Turkish Cypriots as a precondition for the resumption of the Cyprus talks “leaves little room for hope.”
“Turkey’s illegal interventions within the fenced off area of Famagusta, its efforts to establish an institutional relationship between the secessionist entity and the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus and the imposition of a new fait accompli aimed at changing the status quo are obstacles to the reunification of our homeland,” Kasoulides added.
He pledged that “we will continue to make sincere efforts towards every direction with a view to create the conditions and prospects that will lead to reunification.
On his part, Dendias spoke about a recital of hypocrisy if not absurdity on the part of Turkey, stressing that “we will not go down this road.”
Dendias said that apart from its unacceptable, condemnable and continuous rhetoric against Greece, Turkey acts with a view to adversely affect the fragile balance in the Mediterranean.
He noted the recent signing of a “memorandum” between Turkey and “a government which has ceased to have international legitimacy to do so, based on a legal monstrosity that was clinched three years ago.”
At the same time, Turkey continues its provocative actions in the Aegean, Cyprus and other regions, violating the rules of the international law, rules which itself refers to in a recital of hypocrisy if not absurdity, he added.
Dendias stressed that “we will protect our rights in close cooperation with our friends and allies, beginning with our sister country Cyprus. We will do so, however, with full respect to the fundamental principles of the UN and the EU, because this is what our own principles impose on us. This is the practice which civilized countries implement. As we did with Italy and with Egypt.”
He said that these agreements as well as the recent agreement on the maritime zones between Israel and Lebanon, on the basis of the international law, constitute a bright example, which other countries in the region have to follow.
Referring to the war in Ukraine, he said that Greece continues to support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states and has denounced the illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories to Russia.
Moreover he noted that Greece wants to protect the Greek community of Ukraine.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency