ERCAKICA: “TENSION MIGHT ESCALATE IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN”

The decision of the Greek Cypriot side to launch the works for prospecting or exploring oil and natural gas in Eastern Mediterranean on 16 August have initiated some counter measures to be taken.

As it is known, Turkey has launched works for prospecting or exploring oil and natural gas in some regions of Eastern Mediterranean.

Stating that Turkey has not violated the territorial waters of the “Republic of Cyprus”, the Greek Cypriot Spokesman intended to relax the atmosphere. However, in case such developments continue, it is natural to expect the escalation of the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The primary reason of this is the fact that the Greek Cypriot side has been trying to divide the Eastern Mediterranean assuming that Cyprus is “a state without any domestic or foreign problems”. As it is known, the Greek Cypriot side has also spent efforts to deepen the problem by including countries like Egypt and Lebanon in the issue.

Since it is expected that the efforts of the Greek Cypriot side concerning the issue will be intensified from next week onwards, it is also natural to expect the tension in the region to escalate as well.

In response to the said efforts of the Greek Cypriot side, we would like to reiterate our prior statements. Cyprus is a country which has significant problems both at the domestic level and in the international arena. The implementations that will be carried out with a mentality of stealing will serve nothing more than escalating the tension in the region and deteriorating the relations between the two peoples living in Cyprus.

The Greek Cypriot side is trying to further the Cyprus problem in line with their own purposes by creating new crises in the Eastern Mediterranean. Employing such crises, Papadopoulos is striving to assert that their administration is the legal one and to keep the rhetoric that their “state” is sovereign on the agenda.

The air space and territorial waters of Cyprus are problematic regions as well as Cyprus itself. Trying to alter the current status of these regions to the advantage or disadvantage of one of the sides is naturally an issue that should be reacted at.

In any case, it is a well known fact that Turkey has rights in Eastern Mediterranean independent of the Cyprus problem and these rights are based on the international maritime law.

Therefore, in order to benefit from the estimated oil and natural gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean, an urgent and just settlement must be reached for the Cyprus problem. Those who are interested in the issue of who will benefit from the resources should first spend efforts to reach a settlement for the Cyprus problem.

The demonstration organized by the Greek Cypriot side last weekend with the aim of demanding the return of Varosha to its former owners set a significant example to indicate the motive behind the efforts of the Greek Cypriot side.

Instead of spending efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement, the Greek Cypriot side has been striving to advance some parts of the problem and therefore, provide support for the osmosis policy.

Hereby, we would like to remind the Greek Cypriot side once again that, the issue of Varosha is part of a comprehensive settlement. As it is known, by rejecting the UN Comprehensive Settlement Plan, the most comprehensive settlement plan ever prepared and which also had the support of the international community, the Greek Cypriot side has obstructed the return of a significant number of Greek Cypriots to closed Varosha as well as to some other areas.

Cyprus problem is not an issue that can be settled when the parties update the issues they consider beneficial only for themselves. A comprehensive settlement must be reached for this years-long problem. The Turkish side keeps stressing the urgency of the matter. Therefore, the Greek Cypriots who wish to settle the issue of Varosha should support the efforts of reaching a comprehensive and urgent settlement.