- Özersay will travel to Ankara today upon the invitation of Çavuşoğlu …
- Çavuşoğlu: “Companies cooperating with the Greek Cypriots should re-evaluate their situation” …
- Özyiğit to go to Ankara …
- 2nd International Vounous Terracotta Symposium to start …
Özersay will travel to Ankara today upon the invitation of Çavuşoğlu
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret Özersay will travel to Ankara today upon the invitation of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.
It is expected that improving the close cooperation between Turkey and the TRNC, the mobility in the region, the steps to be taken by the two countries in cooperation on the energy issue, the regional security and Cyprus problem and the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean will be discussed at the meeting between Özersay and Çavuşoğlu.
Çavuşoğlu: “Companies cooperating with the Greek Cypriots should re-evaluate their situation”
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu warned that companies which cooperate with the Greek Cypriots should re-evaluate their situation. In his statement to Ta Nea newspaper, he evaluated the relationship between the two countries and also mentioned the Cyprus problem.
Describing the approach of the Greek Cypriot side on the hydrocarbon issue as a “dishonesty case” in the Cyprus problem, Çavuşoğlu said: “Greek Cypriots are pretending that the island belongs solely to them.
They also disregard the indispensable rights of Turkish Cypriots by unilateral hydrocarbon activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. They are not ready to share the power with the Turkish Cypriots just as they are not ready to share the island’s natural resources.”
Pointing out that the natural resources on the island do not only belong to the Greek Cypriots and that the Turkish Cypriot side has natural rights, Çavuşoğlu stated that a decision mechanism should be established to equally include the Turkish Cypriots.
Stating that Turkey warned the Greek Cypriot side not to take irresponsible steps since from the very beginning, Çavuşoğlu added: “If they still believe that there is nothing to lose, they are wrong.”
Underlining that Turkey will protect the rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean of both Turkey and Turkish Cypriots, Çavuşoğlu warned that companies that cooperate with the Greek Cypriots in the field of Hydrocarbon should do well to evaluate the cost-benefit analysis and re-evaluate their situation on hydrocarbon issue.
Mentioning that there is no direct relation between the solution of the Cyprus problem and the hydrocarbon issue, Çavuşoğlu said: “There is no need to wait for a settlement for the establishment of a joint decision mechanism for the hydrocarbon issue between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
Reminding that the solution process for the Cyprus problem ended last July, Çavuşoğlu added: “The reason is simple: The Greek Cypriots cannot accept political equality with the Turkish Cypriots.”
Noting that Turkey used the rights of her own continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean, Çavuşoğlu said that unilateral steps, invalid bilateral agreements, and maximalist opinions cannot have any legal effect on the sovereign rights of Turkey which stems from international agreements.
Çavuşoğlu stressed that Turkey will completely use her sovereignty rights in the continental shelf in the Mediterranean, adding that in respect of the foreign countries, their companies or vessels are not allowed to work on hydrocarbon or scientific research activities on Turkey’s continental shelf or in the seas.
In this regard, Turkey will begin her hydrocarbon exploration activities soon in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the Black sea maritime jurisdiction areas.
Özyiğit to go to Ankara
Minister of Education and Culture Cemal Özyiğit is going to Ankara tonight (3rd September) to hold some official contacts.
Özyiğit will meet with his counterparts – Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk tomorrow (4th September).
2nd International Vounous Terracotta Symposium to start
The 2nd International Vounous Terracotta Symposium is to be held by Çatalköy Municipality between 3-14 September 2018.
A total of 93 artists and scientists from 9 countries; United States of America, Ireland, Slovakia, Latvia, Tunisia, Libya, Turkey, South Cyprus and TRNC will attend the symposium which will start today (3rd September).
