Regarding the European Union’s Maritime Spatial Planning Efforts in the Eastern Mediterranean
We have observed that the European Union (EU), within the scope of its Maritime Spatial Planning efforts, has published certain maps related to the Eastern Mediterranean region.
These maps, which align with the so-called “National Maritime Spatial Plan” prepared by the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA), serve to reinforce the Greek Cypriot side’s baseless claim of being the sole legitimate authority over the island of Cyprus.
We take this opportunity to emphasize once again that the Turkish Cypriot people, as the co-owners of the island of Cyprus, possess equal rights over the waters surrounding the island; therefore they have an equal say and stake in all decisions and actions concerning the island and its resources.
The Greek Cypriot Administration, which only represents the Greek Cypriot people lacks the authority to unilaterally take actions on matters concerning the entire island, let alone to speak or act on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot people. Likewise, the European Union (EU), which admitted the Greek Cypriot Administration unilaterally as a member, has no competence to make statements or take actions on matters concerning the Turkish Cypriot people or issues that fall under the jurisdiction of sovereign states.
Despite all our constructive calls, we observe that the EU, which unconditionally supports the Greek Cypriot Administration’s initiatives that persistently disregard the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people regarding the island and surrounding areas including the hydrocarbon reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean, is now backing the efforts to usurp the Turkish Cypriot people’s rights around the island through the so-called “National Maritime Spatial Planning”.
We call on the EU to acknowledge the inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriot people, including their sovereign equality and equal international status. The EU must cease ignoring the rights and the interests of the Turkish Cypriot people and instead it should adopt a position that fosters dialogue and cooperation between the two states on the island rather than further escalating the tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, which is already a region facing significant challenges.
