Turkey on Friday criticized a statement from an EU leaders’ summit for ignoring Turkish Cypriots, a key party for resolving the recent tension in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The EU statement from a two-day summit due to end today was “far from the truth,” despite the presence of some positive elements, said the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
THERE CAN BE NO NEGOTIATION PROCESS WITH GREEKS WITHOUT THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS
The text is an example of how some EU countries are trying to improve relations with Turkey, but Greece and the Greek Cypriots have taken Turkish-EU relations “hostage,” said a ministry statement. But the ministry hailed as “positive” the reference in the text to Turkey and Greece deciding to resume exploratory talks.
In a Thursday statement, the European Council reiterated its “full solidarity with Greece and [Greek] Cyprus, whose sovereignty and sovereign rights must be respected,” without making any mention of the Turkish Cypriots. “EU leaders stressed that the EU has a strategic interest in a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and the development of a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey,” it added.
“EU leaders welcomed the recent confidence-building steps by Greece and Turkey and the announcement that they will resume their exploratory talks,” the EU statement said.
HoweverDecrying the EU statement for not referring to the Turkish Cypriots, the ministry said the lack of any “mention of fair income sharing between the [island’s] two sides regarding the hydrocarbon resources shows that the EU’s mentality that ignores the Turkish Cypriots continues.”
The ministry added that until the Cyprus problem has been resolved, the Greek Cypriots must address themselves to their neighbors the Turkish Cypriots, not to Turkey. There can be no negotiation process with the Greek Cypriot Administration without the Turkish Cypriots, said the ministry.