PRIME MINISTER SOYER: “OUR PORTS ARE NOT CLOSED...ENTRANCE AND EXIT IS NOT ILLEGAL ACCORDING TO INTERNATIONAL LAW”

Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer evaluating the European Commission’s decision in response to the application of the Greek Cypriot administration for the cancellation of the ferry services between the TRNC and Syria, stated that this showed that the policies pursued by the Turkish Cypriot side had achieved very important results, other than the conscientious support of the world.

Prime Minister Soyer pointed out that Commission’s decision confirmed that the ports of Gazimagusa, Girne and Guzelyurt are not closed and the entrance and exit of foreign vessels are not illegal according to international law.

Soyer added that the decision, which invalidated the allegation of the Greek Cypriot side that the ports of Gazimagusa, Girne and Guzelyurt were closed, would create an appropriate basis for further development of these ports in terms of marine trade.

Speaking before the Council of Ministers Meeting, Prime Minister Soyer explained that the Greek Cypriot side took an initiative by the European Commission in order to gain support for its reaction to the ferry services between Gazimagusa and Latakia just like it did on the issue of direct flights between the TRNC and Azerbaijan.

Soyer noted that the Commission’s response to the Greek Cypriot side for exerting pressure on Syria to stop the ferry services, have demonstrated that the Greek Cypriot side was in a difficult situation as a result of isolating the Turkish Cypriots and of its non-solution policies. Prime Minister Soyer also read the full text of EU Commission’s decision.

The full text of the decision of the EU Commission is as follows:

“The Commission is aware that the Government of the Republic of Cyprus had banned the sea ports in the Northern part of Cyprus and closed them to all vessels in 1974. This decision is a unilateral decision taken within the framework of the internal law of the Republic of Cyprus and did not bear any results in international law.

In other words, for the Commission, entrance to and exit from the sea ports in Northern Cyprus is not illegal according to international law.

Besides this, neither the UN Security Council nor the EU had anytime imposed trade embargo to the said areas. By taking this into consideration, the Commission had made a proposal called the Direct Trade Regulation in 2004.

In line with this past, the Commission is not in a position to intervene in the authorities of Syrian Arab Republic. The issue should be settled bilaterally between the Republic of Cyprus and Syria.”

Continuing, Prime Minister Soyer said:

“Therefore, the only problem standing in front of us is the restriction of our right to trade with Europe because of 1995 European Court of Justice (ECJ) decisions, which were taken as a result of negligence. The EU Commission also stresses that it brought the Direct Trade Regulation on the agenda by taking these facts into consideration and it gives an important message for the Turkish Cypriot people to engage in direct trade with Europe. “

Soyer added that: “This decision would cause the isolation of the Greek Cypriot side within the EU and it is a political step which would create an important opportunity and support for the implementation of the Direct Trade Regulation”. Soyer thanked the President of EU Commission and its members for this decision on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Stressing that the Turkish Cypriot people desired a settlement based on equality, Soyer said they wanted a non-problematic Cyprus to take its honorable position in the EU and thus contribute to Greco-Turkish relations and peace and tranquility in Eastern Mediterranean.

 

FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI: “GAZIMAGUSA-LATAKIA FERRY SERVICES WILL CONTINUE”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý stated that the ferryboat services between Gazimagusa and Latakia would continue despite of all kinds of attempts by the Greek Cypriot side to stop them.

Speaking during a meeting, Foreign Minister Avcý responded the questions of journalists regarding the ferry services between Gazimagusa and Latakia.

Pointing out that the ferry services, which started between the TRNC and Syria was an important opening which has led to the establishment of a bridge with not only Syria but also with the Middle East, Avcý said the Greek Cypriot administration has been spending every effort since last month in order to prevent the ferry services between Gazimagusa and Latakia, however they could not succeed.

Avcý said the Greek Cypriots knew that this bridge would lead to other paths, thus they tried another tack after failing in their initiatives by Syria. Explaining that this was an initiative that the Greek Cypriot side made by Georgia in order to prevent the use Georgian flag on the vessel which travels between Gazimagusa and Latakia, Avcý said: “Our studies are also continuing. We will not give this opportunity to anyone. We will overcome all these difficulties with the support of our motherland. Ferry services will continue.”

Foreign Minister Turgay Avcý stressed that as from today (18 October), there will be two scheduled services per week from Gazimagusa and Latakia ports, with ferries leaving Gazimagusa every Thursday and Saturday. Avcý called upon both peoples to visit each others’ countries.

Expressing his belief that with the ferry services the peoples of Syria and the TRNC would become closer Foreign Minister Avcý said the Greek Cypriot government was extremely concerned about this situation, and in fact they were not only concerned about this issue but about every initiative taken by the Turkish Cypriots.

Stressing that the Greek Cypriots were trying to prevent every step taken by the Turkish Cypriots in international platforms and did not even want the Turkish Cypriots to breath, Avcý said Turkish Cypriots would continue on their path with the support of Motherland Turkey.

Foreign Minister Avcý concluded by saying that they would to everything to help the TRNC to progress in parallel with other world countries.