“IF THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE WANTS TO SEE “OCCUPATION”, THEY SHOULD LOOK AT THEIR OWN ACTIVITIES”
The TRNC and Turkey have always objected to unilateral activities regarding the issue of natural resources and have argued that all sides should cooperate on this issue. The Greek Cypriot side, which rejects our calls for cooperation and continues to take unilateral steps, cannot hide its usurpation attempts by misrepresenting our reciprocal steps taken to protect our rights.
The Greek Cypriot side unjustly and meaninglessly defines the reciprocal activities in this area as “occupation”. This is an area which clearly falls within the continental shelf of Turkey, a country with a special position according to international law and with the longest coastal line in the Eastern Mediterranean. Furthermore, the Greek Cypriot side itself accepts that these resources also belong to the Turkish Cypriots. Nevertheless, this is, in essence, a confession of the fact that it is the actions of the Greek Cypriot side which constitute “occupation”. If the Greek Cypriot side wants to see “occupation”, it should look at its own unilateral steps in these areas.
“YOU CANNOT HIDE YOUR ATTEMPTS TO USURP OUR RIGHTS”
The TRNC and Turkey have been acting consistently and only to protect their own rights, thus the Greek Cypriot leadership’s attempts to verbally attack the TRNC and Turkey, slandering them with so-called “occupation”, is an attempt to hide its own actions aimed at usurping our rights.
“NO ONE SHOULD BE SURPRISED AT THIS DEVELOPMENT”
The fact that international actors appear surprised at the developments which have taken place over the past few days is sheer insincerity. Any realistic party would not deem this just move of Turkey and the TRNC as unexpected, given that they have clearly and consistently emphasized for months that unless the Greek Cypriot side accepts the call for cooperation in this regard, they would take reciprocal steps.
“BE CONSISTENT”
The approach of and steps taken by the TRNC and Turkey regarding the hydrocarbon resources have been peaceful and consistent from the start. The real inconsistency lays in stating, on the one hand, that these resources also belong to the Turkish Cypriots, while, on the other hand, conducting unilateral activities for years by ignoring the will of the Turkish Cypriots. Another inconsistency is, while stating that these resources belong to both communities, consenting to or remaining observer to the unilateral exploitation of these resources only by the Greek Cypriots, and even going so far as to act as the advocate of the Greek Cypriot side.
In light of these events, we invite the Greek Cypriot side and the international community to act consistently and call on them to act on their own statements to the effect that these resources belong to both peoples of the island.