Erdogan’s claims that he is defending the rights of the Turkish Cypriots are an unfounded pretext
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 28th September 2020, Nicosia
Erdogan’s new inflammatory statements about the “Blue Homeland” doctrine are a demonstration of militarism and chauvinism which is provoking the states and peoples of the Eastern Mediterranean. At the same time, it adds new tension and does not contribute to the efforts for a de-escalation in the region. Erdogan’s letter that followed to European governments – apart from Cyprus and Greece – in a different tone records the list of Turkey’s demands from the EU and of course reverses the reality of what is actually happening in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Turkish President claims that he is defending the rights of the Turkish Cypriots. This is of course an unfounded pretext, because:
Firstly, the maritime delimitation agreements between the Republic of Cyprus and its neighboring states were determined on the basis of the middle line. Any adoption of Erdogan’s logic would mean fewer rights for Cyprus and Cypriots, including of the Turkish Cypriots. Furthermore, the Republic of Cyprus has set up a National Fund, from which no one will be able to disburse, thus ensuring the corresponding share to the Turkish Cypriots from any revenues arising from the exploitation of hydrocarbons.
Secondly, the rights of the Turkish Cypriots to the natural wealth of Cyprus and to the revenues from the natural gas are safeguarded with a solution to the Cyprus problem and more specifically by the relevant Christofias-Talat convergence recorded in 2011. If Turkey wants to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots then, instead of proceeding to illegal drillings and other provocative actions, what it must do is contribute towards the solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed framework.
The solution of the Cyprus problem within the agreed framework, the liberation and reunification of Cyprus, will be a vindication for all Cypriots and at the same time it can contribute to peace and stability throughout the Eastern Mediterranean.
