All the necessary diplomatic representations are being made to the United Nations and the EU so that everyone realises that there can be no further tolerance of the unacceptable Turkish manipulations, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, said on Sunday.
Asked by journalists upon his arrival at an event in the context of the 42nd anti-occupation march of Morphou refugees, that took place in Astromeritis, in the Nicosia district, what actions the Republic of Cyprus was taking regarding the latest demands of the Turkish Cypriot side from UNFICYP, the President said that all the necessary diplomatic representations are being made to the United Nations and to the EU, “so that everyone realises that there can be no further tolerance for the unacceptable Turkish manipulations”. He said that the Turkish actions were “nothing more than the consolidation” of the faits accomplis Ankara was seeking.
He made it clear that “there is no question for our side of choosing the path of armed confrontation” adding that the Greek Cypriot side, is trying, through its proposals to convey the message that through a creative dialogue, always within the framework of International Law and especially the European acquis, a solution can be found that will benefit Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, but also Turkey.
When asked if he would respond to counter-proposals by the leader of the Turkish Cypriots, Ersin Tatar, President Anastasiades referred to the confidence-building measures he had submitted, which he said, could build trust between the two sides but also prepare the ground for a new creative dialogue. “Unfortunately, Mr. Tatar’s counter-proposals are only aimed at discussing how to establish their pursuit, for the creation of two states. Therefore, I am not prepared to contribute in that direction,” he said.
Regarding his short conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Prague earlier this week, on the sidelines of the first meeting of the European Political Community, he said that he greeted him, the same way he greeted some other European partners who were with him, and that he reminded him “the need to finally have a meaningful dialogue”. President Anastasiades said he told Erdogan that the time has come, instead of threats or creating faits accomplis, to create the prospects for a solution to the Cyprus issue that will pave the way also for Turkey’s European orientation.
He added that what is required is for Turkey to realise that it cannot continue not bearing any consequences when it threatens European countries, “such as, openly, and without any reason, Greece, the Greek islands, when it violates the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Cyprus, to the detriment, even of the Turkish Cypriots, when they take the actions they take in Famagusta, or the ongoing intransigent behaviour towards any international law.”
President Anastasiades also said that Turkey’s claim, that it is seeking a friendly settlement between its neighbouring countries based on International Law, is contradicted by the very actions it is taking.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results.
President Anastasiades conveyed a proposal on Confidence Building Measures through a letter to the Turkish Cypriot leader and the UN, last May, including provisions for the operation of the airport, located in Turkish-occupied Tymbou, under the UN, and the return of legal residents to Varosha, the fenced off part of Famagusta.
The proposed package of measures also provides for European Commission involvement in trade through Famagusta port and the implementation by Ankara of the Additional Protocol, allowing Cypriot-flagged vessels to access ports in Turkey. An escrow account for revenues from hydrocarbon activities, to be accessed by the Turkish Cypriot community is also proposed, provided that Cyprus and Turkey delineate their exclusive economic zones. The Turkish Cypriot side dismissed the package, proposing instead a set of “cooperation proposals” between two “states” in areas such as electricity, renewable energy, water and hydrocarbons.
Source: Cyprus News Agency