Turkey called the resolution of the European Parliament regarding Ankara and the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) “detached from reality”. This was stated by the press secretary of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Hami Aksoy.
The EP adopted a resolution on Thursday calling for sanctions against Turkey because of its position on Cyprus. Turkey is convinced that such a decision was taken under the dictation of the Greek community of Cyprus.
“We completely reject the resolution of the European Parliament regarding our country and the TRNC […]. This decision, without a doubt, taken under the dictation of the Greek community of Cyprus, shows how biased and divorced from reality the European Parliament on the Cyprus issue is”, – a spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
Turkey has stated that it intends to defend its own rights and the those of the Turkish community, “not giving in to threats and blackmail”.
“We offer the European Parliament and the EU to accept the realities in Cyprus and the presence of the Turkish community there, as well as fulfill the EU’s obligations to the Turkish Cypriots”, – Aksoy, quoted by RIA Novosti, told the reporters.
Recently, relations between Athens and Ankara have deteriorated sharply. This is because the Turkish ship Oruc Reis is conducting seismic surveys in the Eastern Mediterranean in an area that Greece considers its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Greek armed forces were put on high alert. Turkey is also conducting research near Cyprus.
Cyprus has been de facto divided between the Greek and Turkish communities since 1974. In 1983, in the north of the island, the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” was proclaimed, not recognized by the world community. Only the Republic of Cyprus remains internationally recognized, de facto controlling the south of the island. The Greek and Turkish communities of the island have been negotiating for a political reunification of Cyprus for years, but have not yet succeeded.
The arrival of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in November to Northern Cyprus did not add to the relaxation of the situation.