Says his country looks forward to hosting Pakistani leadership
Naveed Ahmad Khan
ISLAMABAD: The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Tehsin Ertugruloglu reiterated commitment of his fellowmen to defend their country against any aggression and pursue the course of democracy, economy, respect to social equality, human rights and independence. He expressed these views while addressing the media at the embassy of TRNC, Islamabad. Mrs. Dilsad Senol TRNC’s had Head of Mission in Pakistan was also present on media briefing
He said, motherland Turkey and Pakistan have always been forthcoming whenever TRNC needed support. “I would say categorically that Pakistan, among the OIC member countries, has a clear understanding of what is going on in the island. Minister Tehsin was all praise for people of Pakistan as well.
He said, we are only waiting for the UN Secretary General’s call who, after the 5+1 talks, told us that it will get in touch with the TRNC government after finding some common grounds for further negotiations. But, hitherto there is no call from the UN Secretary General. To yet another question about Azerbaijan and Pakistan recognizing TRNC, the minister said there is no doubt that they had a unique relationship with these two countries, however TRNC has not sought recognition from Azerbaijan and Pakistan. “Both the countries are very close brothers and we do not want our brothers to be in any difficult situation because of us”, Mr. Tehsin added
He said the European Union did a great injustice with the people of TRNC when it unilaterally accepted the Greek part as a member of the EU. It ostensibly disturbed balance of power in favor of the Greek side and literally killed the concept of equality. Now, under prevailing circumstances how can we hold negotiations that are not based on equality because one side is already a member of the European Union?
It may be mentioned here that the former Secretary General Kofi Annan had spearheaded a referendum in 2004 on the island in order to seek re-unification. Nevertheless the Greek side had rejected the plan by voting against it while the Turkish Cypriots had overwhelmingly (65 %) supported the UN Secretary General initiative by saying a big Yes. The Annan Plan had undergone five revisions before it reached its final version. The 5th revision proposed the creation of the United Republic of Cyprus, covering the island of Cyprus in its entirety except for the UK’s Sovereign Base Areas. This new country was to be a federation of two constituent states – the Greek Cypriot State and the Turkish Cypriot State – joined together by a federal government apparatus.
To yet another question about exploration of resources in the area, the Foreign Minister said, the Greek Cypriots have unilaterally licensed international oil companies to conduct hydrocarbon activities and have passed a legislative bill to establish a so-called national investment fund to manage unilaterally the future capital income from hydrocarbon reserves. Moreover they have signed bilateral agreements with many countries regarding the delimitation of its unilaterally declared so called exclusive economic zone. As a result of the Greek Cypriot side’s increasing unilateral actions, the Turkish Cypriot side has been obliged to take steps to protect its own rights and interests regarding the hydrocarbon resources around the island.
During the question answer session he talked about the recently held 5+1 talks, the minister said even before the beginning of the talks the TRNC side was convinced that nothing tangible will come out of this exercise only because of intransigence of the Greek side. “As I had clearly mentioned during my Zoom interview with you a few months ago that if these talks fail, we will then go for international recognition. And I believe these talks have not produced desired results therefore there is no question of any further talks on this issue. As regards international recognition, the option was very much on the table,” he added.
To a question about COVID situation in TRNC, the Foreign Minister said everyone is suffering and so is the TRNC. But daily cases in our country are less and the number of deaths is very low, but then you know we are a small country. Our government is conscious about the spread of the virus and we are thankful to motherland Turkey for providing us the vaccines. To yet another question he said he was looking forward to hosting Pakistani leadership, especially the Foreign Minister Qureshi in his country. Similarly he hoped the TRNC leadership would also pay a visit to Pakistan. Tehsin Ertugruloglu has thanked Pakistan for whole-hearted support on the issue of Cyprus adding the rest of the Muslim world, unfortunately, was yet to pay heed to our difficulties.