The Turkish Foreign Ministry accuses Greece of an aggressive and hostile attitude in its annual report in which it summarizes its positions, policies and aspirations by geographical region. It accuses Greece of violating the status of the Aegean islands, but does not dispute their sovereignty. The annual edition reiterates the Turkish side's objective of recognising the pseudo-state in occupied Cyprus.
In the chapters "An. Mediterranean, Cyprus, Greece" records the presentation made by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to the Planning and Budget Committee of the Turkish Parliament on November 8, 2022.
As stated, "Turkey has legitimate rights and interests derived from international law in the maritime areas of the Eastern Mediterranean", while it refers to "biased and partial attitude adopted by the EU and some third countries", which, as Agra argues, does not contribute to the stability and peace of the region.
"No platform or project in the region that tries to ignore our country will succeed. The withdrawal of US support from the EastMed gas pipeline project[/B] also demonstrated this situation," it said."
According to the annual publication, the boundaries of Turkey's continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean were notified to the UN in 2020. "On this continental shelf, where we have sovereign rights, hydrocarbon activities continue with Turkish-flagged seismic and drilling vessels. Unauthorized activities of research vessels flying the flag of a third country are not allowed within these borders."
It adds that the regional conference on the Eastern Mediterranean proposed by the Turkish president, if implemented, "will provide the necessary basis for multilateral cooperation and dialogue in the region."
It goes on to say that "in the Aegean, we aim for a just solution to all interconnected problems between Greece and our country within the framework of international law and in accordance with the rights and interests of our country."
There is also talk of "violation by Greece of the demilitarized status of the East Aegean islands" and the claim that "Turkey has the necessary political will to solve the current problems". "Greece's current policy of tension and voicing complaints against Turkey to third parties will further harm Greece," Ankara says.
According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry's annual publication, "on the Cyprus problem, our national affair, in the light of the position for a two-state solution[/B], we continue our initiatives in every field to secure the acquired rights (sovereign equality and equal international status) of our Turkish Cypriot brothers and sisters and to end the unjust embargo and isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people."
"Pointing out the profound inequality between the status of the two co-owners of the island, we stress that the desire of the Greek Cypriot side to dominate the entire island destroyed the Republic of Cyprus in 1963 and prevents a solution today. We stress that a bizonal, bicommunal federation will not be negotiated once again and that a possible negotiation process can only begin after the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people has been recognized," it adds.
In this context, it continues, "we supported the proposals for cooperation in six areas (hydrocarbons, electricity interconnection, energy, water, illegal migration, mine clearance) presented by Tdvk President Ersin Tatar on 1 and 8 July in a ministerial statement. The implementation of these proposals will contribute to peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as to the consolidation of cooperation between the two existing states on the island, and will be instrumental in creating common ground for a solution to the Cyprus problem."
He goes on to refer to Erdogan's call to the international community, at the 77th UN General Assembly, for recognition of the pseudo-state and says that "we continue to work together with tdvk towards this goal, which confirms that Turkish Cypriots are equal and co-owners of the island".
On Greece, it says that "the positive atmosphere in our relations with Greece was short-lived and the Greek side did not demonstrate a sincere and honest approach and continued its provocative and escalating actions and statements."
As a result, it continues, it was decided to cancel the High Level Cooperation Council meetings with Greece and all high-level dialogue mechanisms were suspended. "In the face of Greece's aggressive and hostile attitude, all necessary measures were taken within the framework of international law to protect our national security and legitimate interests, and that country's provocations and harassment remained on the agenda of the international community," it notes.
According to the Turkish claim, Greece took an "uncompromising stance" on fundamental issues of bilateral relations, such as the fight against terrorism, illegal migration and minorities. On Western Thrace, it claims that Greece "continues to interfere with the rights of the Turkish minority through repressive laws and practices" and calls on Athens to "respect international law" and fulfill its treaty obligations.
Source: KYPE
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