Turkey’s violations and the EU’s inaction

21 September 2020

Article by Yiorgos Georgiou AKEL MEP

The Eastern Mediterranean is on fire. Turkey, taking advantage of the geopolitical volatile situation in the region and the stagnation in which the Cyprus problem has fallen into, is unashamedly engaging in provocative actions, concluding illegal agreements, violating International Law, the UN Law of the Sea and disputing the sovereign rights of Cyprus and Greece in an effort to impose new fait accompli on the ground.

The responsibilities of NATO and the European Union are enormous. The EU is keeping silent and is deliberately continuing to turn a blind eye to what is going on and appeasing Turkey, at the same time as it is brazenly dishing out sanctions to other countries. Unfortunately, the selfish national, trade and economic interests of numerous EU countries do not allow it to salvage its dignity and credibility in the face of a provocative troublemaker like Erdogan.

However, the question logically arises: Where are the Anastasiades-DISY Government’s partners and the strong allies it was boasting that it has in the EU? Unfortunately, it seems that the Government is using these cooperations only to serve internal consumption purposes, trying to cover up its own inaction. Despite the assurances of the government of Anastasiades and ruling DISY party that they have supposedly succeeded in shielding the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus, Turkey is continuing its pirate activities unhindered without any cost.

In his recent speech to the Plenary of the European Parliament, the EU High Representative J. Borrell, during the debate on the situation in the region of the Eastern Mediterranean, tried to sweeten the bitter pill with regards the EU’s inaction in relation to Turkey’s escalating aggressive actions. In actual fact, he did not hesitate to praise Turkey’s role on the immigration issue and underline how important a partner Turkey is.

Indeed the President of the European Commission, discussing the situation in the EU, reminded us in an emphatic way that Turkey is and will always remain an important neighbor. He just confined himself to state that despite Turkey’s assistance in the management of the immigration issue, the intimidation its neighbors isn’t justified….At the same time, of course, Turkey is continuing its illegal activities undisturbed, dangerously intensifying the tension.

The reply, however, came from the European Parliament. After intense processes, we succeeded in a resolution being approved by the plenary session of the EP, which, with the submission of our own proposal, pointed out Turkey’s aggressive actions as the main cause of the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean. Furthermore, the resolution also stressed that only if there is progress on the ground recorded and a sincere dialogue conducted can further sanctions be avoided.

In view of the growing threats for the colonalisation of Famagusta, as AKEL, through our Political Group, the European United Left/Nordic Green Left, we submitted a written proposal for discussion of the issue in the Plenary Session of the EP. More specifically, we called for a discussion to be carried out and for a resolution to be approved on the subject, “Turkey’s escalating provocative actions in the EEZ and Varosha and the pressing need for a resumption of the negotiations with the goal of achieving a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.”

Famagusta, without in itself constituting the Cyprus issue, signals any prospects for its development. Its possible colonalisation will deal the fatal blow and destroy the prospects of resolving the Cyprus problem and will seal the partition of Cyprus. The President of the Republic and his Government were very late in reacting and, today, they seem incapable of intervening. If Famagusta is colonalised and if we are led to the final partition of Cyprus, their responsibilities will be enormous,

The conjuncture with regards the geopolitical developments in the region, Turkey’s actions of brazen disregard and the reluctance of the EU to react in an effective way, but also the stagnation surrounding the negotiations on the Cyprus problem do not create promising prospects.

We will not tire of repeating that only the liberation and reunification of our homeland within the framework of a comprehensive solution can our people be vindicated there be and a guarantee for a future of security and peace on our island.

Together with the Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left, which has proved to be the most consistent ally of the Cypriot people in the European Parliament, we shall continue the struggle for peace in our region, for the lifting of the occupation and the reunification of Cyprus and our people.