Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the TRNC

During the visit of the Greek Cypriot Leader Mr. Anastasiades to London, an agreement was signed on 15 January 2014 between the Government of the United Kingdom and “the Government of the Republic of Cyprus” regarding the use, improvement and development of privately owned property within the British Sovereign Bases. It is understood that the area in question  corresponds to 78% of the territory of the British Sovereign Bases and amounts to an area of about 200 square kilometers and, regarding the issues on use, improvement and development of these properties, Greek Cypriot legislation will be applied. Furthermore in the case of the settlement of disputes concerning developments, the cases will be referred to the competent Greek Cypriot Courts.

As it is well known, the British Sovereign Bases were established with documents and maps attached to the Treaty of Establishment of 1960 and ratified with an agreement signed by three Guarantor States and the Representatives of the two communities on the Island. When the Zurich and London Agreements, the Treaties of Establishment and Guarantee, their Annexes, exchanged Memorandums and Declarations, that established the 1960 Republic of Cyprus, are examined, it becomes evident that all of these constitute a package and Sovereign Bases are an inseperable part of this whole.

The amendments made regarding the Sovereign Bases without prior consultation with and consent of all the guarantor powers; Turkey, Greece, the United Kingdom, as well as the  Turkish Cypriots and  Greek Cypriots, which are the signatories to the aforementined Treaties and Agreements, is in breach of both the Cyprus Treaties of 1960 and the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. Therefore, the agreement which affects the rights and the obligations of the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey, shouldn’t be expected to be binding on us as it is made without our prior knowledge and without having been negotiated with us and received our consent.

Being one of the five signatories of the Treaties that established the 1960 Republic of Cyprus,   President Dr. Dervis Eroglu, on behalf of the Turkish Cypriots, invited British High Commissioner to Cyprus, Mr. Matthew Kidd, to his office, to get detailed information and he expressed the concerns and dissatisfaction of the Turkish Cypriots in rhe view of the  legal, political and practical complications stemming from this unfortunate agreement.

Likewise, on behalf of the Government, Prime Minister Mr. Özkan Yorgancıoğlu met with the British High Commissioner to Cyprus in his Office and explained the adverse outcomes of the agreement, signed without prior knowledge and representation of  the Turkish Cypriots and shared his opinions with the British High Commissioner.

At a time when the Turkish Cypriot side is committed to the resumption of negotiations and is undertaking  well-intentioned efforts and initiatives to this effect, the fact that after long consultations the Government of the United Kingdom conluded an agreement with the Greek Cypirot side changing the status quo of the Bases in their favour,  without prior consultation with and consent of the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey, is an act which is far from being equitable and can never be  approved.

As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we would like to express that we will not passively stand by in the face of this fait accompli that is actually in breach of international Treaties and Agreements regarding Cyprus, and that the necessary consulatations and initiatives in this regard are underway.

27 January 2014,

Lefkoşa.