Greece and Cyprus were accused by the Turkish Foreign Minister, justifying Turkey's policy in the eastern Mediterranean. "The Greek government believes that it can escape with this strategy of insult," the Turkish minister said, adding that "Turkey's door remains open for dialogue." There is a way out. " He stressed that the Eastern Mediterranean Conference is an opportunity for co-operation ", adding that today in Brussels the European Commission and the Turkish embassy there will have a meeting on how to organize this conference.
In an interview for the 6th Mediterranean Dialogue Meeting, the Turkish Minister said that "at the moment everyone is losing in the Mediterranean". "When hydrocarbon sources were discovered, many of us considered it an opportunity for cooperation, prosperity for all, we wished to exploit the deposits for the benefit of all but some countries behaved in the opposite," he said, blaming Greece and Cyprus. He then made a lengthy "historical" look at things from the Turkish point of view.
"In 2003, he said, despite our objections, the Greek Cypriots signed an agreement with Egypt, which violates the rights of Turkey and the equal rights of the Turkish Cypriots on the island," he claimed.
And in 2010 the Greek Cypriots signed another agreement with Israel, ignoring our rights and those of Lebanon. In 2011 the Greek Cypriots started drilling. In 2004, Greece announced licenses in areas adjacent to Libya, violating Libya's rights. The Greeks and the Greek Cypriots tried to form alliances by isolating us and the Turkish Cypriots. In 2020, they established the Eastmed Gaz Forum, excluding Turkey with the largest coastline in the Mediterranean and the T / C. How is this done?
We continued to call for dialogue. The proposal of the Turkish Cypriots for equal distribution of hydrocarbons in 2011 and 2012 and in 2019 was rejected by the Greek Cypriots. Since 2016, we have been calling for exploratory contacts with Greece and they still refuse. We have patiently warned Greece to come closer. Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots have called on the Greek Cypriots to end their activities in order to resolve the issue. Again we waited until 2018 for our first drilling in the area. These developments led us to the signing of the agreement with Libya. Our research ship Uruts Reyes ceased its activities giving opportunity to diplomacy. Thanks to Germany, Greece and Turkey have agreed to resume exploratory talks. A few hours before Turkey and Greece intended to announce these talks, Greece signed the so-called maritime border agreement with Egypt, violating the rights of Turkey and Libya on their continental shelf. The EU summit in October also continued its threat. Every time Turkey paves the way for diplomacy, it responds to threats and challenges. Why; Because the Greek government believes that it can escape with this strategy of insult. "And the EU is complicit in allowing two members to harass the entire system."
He said that with his article in the Greek press he addressed the Greek people. "Or we will follow the tactics of tension or peace. Our choice is clear. The door to Turkey remains open for dialogue. There is a way out. The Eastern Mediterranean Conference is an opportunity for cooperation and that is our proposal. And today in Brussels, the European Commission and my embassy there will have a meeting on how to organize this conference. The exclusion of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots does not serve the interests of anyone, not even a European state or a NATO member. "EU leaders can encourage Greece and the Greek Cypriots to co-operate with Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots," he said.
Noting that only Turkey recognizes the pseudo-state, the Turkish minister said that "recognition of the 'state' is a political decision and the rights of the people on the island are different issues." "You may not recognize a state but you can not ignore the rights of the people of the two communities. For example, we do not recognize the 'Greek Cypriot administration of southern Cyprus' but we do not ignore them and they also have rights. "What we need is equal sharing," said the Turkish minister.
Source: KYPE