A United Nations official said the spat between Cyprus and Turkey over natural gas that saw the Greek Cypriot side pull out of reunification talks was a serious issue, as he urged the sides to avoid further escalation.

Greek Cypriot Leader Nicos Anastasiades with UN Special Advisor Espen Barth Eide.

“And I think it’s very important now that everybody acts responsibly and avoid further escalation and that we as soon as possible create an understanding that the oil and gas resources, as President (Nicos) Anastasiades has repeatedly stated, is for all Cypriots,” UN special adviser Espen Barth Eide told reporters after meeting Anastasiades on Wednesday morning.

“It’s a serious issue that we also see in all the parts of the world when you have maritime disputes, it illustrates one of the points that I have raised earlier in my presence here which is that oil and gas can be either a blessing or curse. If it is well managed it will be a source of wealth for all Cypriots, if it becomes a source of tension it will be a problem for everyone and then it will more of a curse than a solution.”

Anastasiades pulled out of talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu on Tuesday in response to Turkey’s announcement that it was reserving areas for seismic surveys south of the island and within Cyprus’offshore blocks.

Anastasiades has asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to convince Turkey to stop violating Cyprus’ sovereignty, warning that such actions “would deal a heavy blow to the negotiations for the settlement of the Cyprus problem.”

“They have the potential to destroy the efforts of creating a good and positive environment and actually derail the whole negotiating process,” the president said in a letter to Ban.

Eide is scheduled to meet with Eroglu later on Wednesday.

“I continue to talk to both sides about how to develop the ideas for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem,” he said. “I recognize that this is a very tense moment because the situation has become more complex given the developments at sea. But I also underline what I told you and both sides when I was here first that there are strategic reasons why status quo is utterly unacceptable.”

  Küfi Seydali

Comment by KS

They are all paying lip service to the fact that “Oil and Gas rezerves around Cyprus belong to all the Cypriots”, However, that is not what the Greeks are doing! The reason behind this treacherous behaviour is the fact that Greeks understand the term “Cypriots” as the Greeks living in the South under their juristiction. As long as this attitude does not change, any discussions are a complete waste of time. As Turkish Cypriots we appreciate the firm stand demonstrated by the Turkish Government on this issue.

 

The European Union said on Wednesday that Turkey must respect the sovereignty of member states over their territorial sea after the neighbouring country’s announcement that it was reserving areas for seismic surveys south of Cyprus and within the island’s offshore blocks.

In its annual report on countries seeking to join the bloc, Brussels said Turkey supported the resumption of reunification talks between the leaders of the two communities under the good offices of the UN Secretary-General.

“However, Turkey issued statements and engaged in actions challenging the Republic of Cyprus’ right to exploit hydrocarbon resources in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone for the benefit of all Cypriots,” the European Commission said.

The move prompted President Nicos Anastasiades to pull out of the talks on Tuesday.

“The EU stressed the sovereign rights of EU Member States, which include entering into bilateral agreements, and exploring and exploiting their natural resources in accordance with the EU acquis and international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The EU also stressed the need to respect the sovereignty of Member States over their territorial sea,” the progress report said.

The EU said Turkey was expected to actively support the negotiations towards a fair, comprehensive, and viable settlement of the Cyprus issue in line with UN resolutions and principles on which the EU is founded.

“Turkey’s commitment in concrete terms to such a comprehensive settlement remains crucial,” the EU said. “Statements that are not conducive to creating a positive atmosphere in the context of the ongoing settlement talks should be avoided.”

It further notes that despite repeated calls by the European Council and the Commission, Turkey has still not complied with its obligations as outlined in the declaration of the European Community and its Member States of September 21, 2005 and in Council conclusions, including those of December 2006 and December 2013.

Turkey has not fulfilled its obligation to ensure full and non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement and has not removed all obstacles to the free movement of goods, including restrictions on direct transport links with Cyprus.

“There was no progress on normalising bilateral relations with the Republic of Cyprus” and “Turkey has not lifted its veto of Cyprus’ membership of several international organisations, such as the OECD,” the report said.

On the domestic front, the 80-page report reprimanded the Turkish administration for political meddling in the judiciary, saying a response to a government corruption scandal has harmed the independence of the judiciary and weakened civil rights.

Of most concern to the Commission, which helps EU governments decide who to let into the bloc, is Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s struggle for influence over the courts to pursue his political foes. It is linked to a corruption scandal which has swirled around Erdogan’s inner circle.

“The response of the government following allegations of corruption in December 2013 has given rise to serious concerns regarding the independence of the judiciary and separation of powers,” the Commission said.

But Brussels said it still believes more talks are possible, recommending opening discussions on the judiciary and fundamental rights as a way to force Turkey to confront the issue.

Turkey, a member of the NATO Western military alliance, began talks to join the EU in 2005, 18 years after applying. But a series of political obstacles, notably over Cyprus, and resistance to Turkish membership in Germany and France mean much of the accession process is frozen.

As a result of Turkey not having fully implemented the Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement, the EU decided in December 2006 that eight negotiating chapters could not be opened and that no chapter could be provisionally closed until Turkey meets its obligations.

  Küfi Seydali

Comment by KS:

Why should Turkey respect the sovereignty of an illegal state? Why should Turkey fulfil any decisions taken by Greek dominated EU and abide by her acquis? Turkey is not a member of the EU, does not recognize the so called “Republic of Cyprus” and as such has no obligation towards neither of them. The EU has also, under Greek pressure, failed to fulfil her own promises and obligations towards the Turkish Cypriots and their state, the TRNC. Despite the fact that in 2004, the Greek side rejected the Annan Plan for reunification, the EU granted them full membership in the name of “CYPRUS” disregarding the existence of the Turkish Cypriots completely. So, the EU has no legal or moral right to demand anything with regards to Cyprus.

 

Konstantinos Koutras, spokesman for the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

Greek Cypriot Leader Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras have discussed the coordination of actions as a reaction to the Turkish provocations in Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

According to a written statement by Greek Cypriot Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides, in the light of the developments in the region and the announcements of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs with regard to the activities taking place within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the “Republic of Cyprus”, Anastasiadis had on Monday morning a telephone conversation with the Greek Prime Minister.
Anastasiades and Samaras discussed further steps and measures, in coordination between the two governments, Christodoulides said, (CNA)

Earlier reports said Athens had issued a strict warning to Ankara, saying: “Either respect International Law concerning Cyprus’s rights over gas and petroleum exploration within its territorial waters and continental shelf, or take the consequences for your EU membership”.

Konstantinos Koutras, spokesman for the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Turkey ought to respect the sovereign rights that the “Republic of Cyprus” has on its own continental shelf, as a country-member of the UN and the European Union.

“Cyprus cannot tolerate any further violations of International Law”, Mr. Koutras warned, adding that “Turkey’s behavior will decide it’s European future and also the negotiation process on the Cyprus matter.”

Yesterday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry called upon the international community “to take action to prevent the provocative and one-sided steps taken by the Greek Cypriot side”.

Nikos Christodoulides, the Greek Cypriot  spokesman, said that impending the work of the company which is conducting exploration drills within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the “Republic”, does in no way help the normal continuation of the ongoing negotiations for a peaceful solution to the 50 year old division of the island.

CNA

  Küfi Seydali

 

 

The UN Secretary-General’s new Special Advisor to

Cyprus Espen is in favour of a solution!

I AM for a settlement,” the UN Secretary-General’s new Special Advisor to Cyprus Espen Barth Eide said in a recent interview. By way of explanation, he said: “I am not impartial to a settlement or non-settlement, I am for a settlement.”

One columnist, impressed with Eide’s statement of the obvious, asked the obvious question. “Was it ever possible for the special advisor of the Secretary-General of the UN for the Cyprus problem not to have been in favour of a settlement?” asked Alecos Constantinides in last Monday’s Alithia and added, “all 24 envoys and special advisors of the UN SG, all Eide’s predecessors were in favour of a settlement.”

Eide’s statement of the obvious may have been necessary given that our politicians view the peace talks as a never-ending process. He may have heard some of the statements being made about the need for a deal “as soon as possible, but without suffocating timeframes and arbitration,” which give a good illustration of the prevailing approach to the talks. We want a solution the soonest, but are opposed to any arrangements that would help achieve this.

Opposition parties were not happy to read Eide’s weekend comments about his plan to come to the island with “some bridging proposals” and his intention to “go into the essence of the disagreements” and “go into that fast.” The parties immediately sought explanations demanding to know what Eide meant, as they felt the differences could not be bridged, given Turkey’s stance.

In other words, they do not want Eide to make bridging proposals because this might threaten the never-ending nature of the talks; they would have been more comfortable if Eide was not in favour of a settlement. The Anastasiades government also appears to share this view, its spokesman pointing out that UN bridging proposals could be made orally “without these views being binding or having any official standing”.

The government’s message to the concerned opposition parties was very clear – Eide would make his proposals just for fun, to keep the two sides entertained, as neither is obliged to accept them. There was no danger of differences being bridged even though we would all be less worried if Eide was not so openly in favour of a settlement. We would prefer a Special Advisor who would be as happy with a non-settlement as he would be with a settlement and does not try to remove us from our comfort zone with bridging proposals, even if they are not binding.

  Küfi Seydali

 

The defence ministers of  South Cyprus and Greece, Christoforos Fokaides and Demetris Avramopoulos respectively signing the Memorandum

 

Cyprus and Greece signed Wednesday a joint Memorandum of Crisis Management which provides for the strengthening of the cooperation between the two states in the field of defence.

The Memorandum was signed by the Minister of Defence Christoforos Fokaides and the Minister of National Defence of Greece Demetris Avramopoulos, who paid Cyprus a visit on the occasion of the Republic`s Independence Day.

In statements after the meeting, Fokaides said that the Memorandum was signed with the aim to strengthen the two countries’ defence cooperation for the safeguarding of their territorial integrity and the protection of their sovereignty.

The Memorandum, he went on to say, provides for the exchange of information, the coordination of the actions of the crisis management services and measures for joint actions.

Fokaides said that the Memorandum is an additional tool for the deepening of the close cooperation which exists between the two countries in the areas of defence and security.

Cyprus and Greece, the Cypriot Minister stressed, are countries of stability, security and democracy in the wider region and have an extremely important and upgraded role to play for regional security.

In his statements, the Greek Minister of National Defense said that the agreement signed today does not have any aggressive purposes.

“On the contrary, it contributes to the creation of a safety environment”, he said, noting that the defence systems of Greece and Cyprus, apart from the purpose of protecting and ensuring the integrity and independence of Greece and Cyprus, respectively, can serve other common European purposes.

Referring to the meeting he had earlier with President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, Avramopoulos said that they spoke about the Cyprus problem and the developments in the region “which strengthens the geostrategic and geopolitical role of Cyprus”.

He also said that Cyprus` defence system is modern and efficient and is ready to respond to any challenge.

 

  Küfi Seydali

Comment by Soothsayer

This is another nail in the coffin for reuniting Cyprus. Under the 1960 constution, ratified on the 16th August, neither party (Greek nor Turk) can enter into a treaty with any third party without the agreement of the other. This is clearly an acknowledgement by the Greek Republic of Cyprus that the Turks are a seperate entity. It’s about time that they realised this.
Despite his nationalistic rhetoric, Anastisiades is getting the Greek Cypriots (GC) ready for the inevitable. Not before time.
What is really strange though is that GC’s choose to hang onto the coat tails of a country (Greece) which has brought them death, destruction and bankruptcy. A very curious, masochistic and very peculiar GC psyche.

Greek Cypriot Leader Anastasiades, speaking at the 54th year (!) celebrations got carried away and thanked the EOKA terrorists who fought against the British and Turkish Cypriots for ENOSIS (Union with Greece, 1955-1959).

He provoked sharp reactions from both Turkish and Greek Cypriots as well as from the TRNC Leadersip.

 

Nicos Anastasiades hopes that the current international interest in the Cyprus issue would help create prospects for a solution, he said in his address to the nation to mark the island’s 54^th anniversary of independence.

In his speech on Tuesday evening, Anastasiades paid tribute to the EOKA fighters who made independence possible in 1960, and those who later defended the Republic in the wake of the Turkish invasion in 1974.

He said he hoped that the current international interest in the Cyprus issue would help create prospects for a solution.

“Addressing our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, I would like to send the message that, while they should consider our sincere wish and determination for finding a solution, they should not expect that it would ever be possible for us to accept a solution that will not meet the expectations of the Greek Cypriots, or that will make the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots second-class citizens of the EU,” he said.

“At the same time, I call on the Turkish government to respond and contribute substantially, through specific actions, to the effort made for the solution of the Cyprus problem.”

Anastasiades called for the 54^th anniversary to be “the beginning of a new era.

He also referred to the harsh economic conditions the island was undergoing

“We now bear the cost of longstanding problems, the system’s problems, the indecisiveness and fear to take responsibility in the past, as well as political weaknesses, wrong strategic choices and prejudices that led our country on the verge of destruction,” he said.

“It is time to acknowledge our mistakes, before the people, through self-awareness, self-criticism and courage… to acknowledge the reasons why our country went from a place of prosperity, stability, security and safety to being on the brink of economic but also national bankruptcy.”

Anastasiades said he was certain that the island could overcome the obstacles and return to conditions of growth and progress, free from the ills of the past.

“We are working towards transforming Cyprus into a modern, reliable and European country, country that will be playing a key role in the very important and sensitive area of the East Mediterranean, a country that will lead the effort for cooperation, peace and stability,” he said.

Comment by a Greek Cypriot (Veritas):

“In his speech on Tuesday evening, Anastasiades paid tribute to the EOKA fighters who made independence possible in 1960”.

Quite an appalling statement by the President on the eve of our National Day. Doesn’t he know that the aim of the EOKA campaign was union with Greece or ENOSIS and not independence? Further, the founder of EOKA, Gen. Grivas, was never pleased with the 1960 independence and formed EOKA B in1971, which turned out to be the final nail in the coffin 1974.
Above, together with the use of the Greek flag alongside the Cypriot flag on our National Day, doesn’t move things any closer to a solution. A very poor mind of judgement.

Comment by a Turkish Cypriot (Özay Mehmet):

I must admit I was one of those who welcomed Mr. A when he was elected leader of GCs…I thought his Yes in 2004 was the result of intelligence….He has been a great disappointment since day 1…his last performance fits only that of a failed politician. The man is a joke…which world does he live in?

 

  Küf Seydali