Do not exceed your authority, Turkey warns ambassadors over Cyprus issue

ANKARA

Turkey's Foreign Ministry has slammed the remarks made by a number of foreign ambassadors in a recent conference in Greek Cyprus, calling them to "not exceed their authority."

"The remarks made by some Ambassadors during a recent conference in the Greek Cypriot Administration, in support of the unilateral hydrocarbon-related activities being conducted by the Greek Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean, are unwarranted. We recommend to the representatives of the relevant countries that they do not exceed their authority," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy said in a statement late July 30.

"It is unacceptable that the Greek Cypriot side persists in acting as though it were the sole owner of the Island and continues with its unilateral hydrocarbon-related activities in the absence of a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus. With these activities, the Greek Cypriot side disregards the inalienable rights on natural resources of the Turkish Cypriots, who are the Island’s co-owners," the statement added, criticizing Greek Cypriot side of having an attitude that is "far removed from any spirit of compromise."

"Within this framework, as we have previously stated on numerous occasions, Turkey is determined to protect the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots and to continue supporting them," the statement concluded, adding that Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, at the joint press conference he held with Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akıncı during his visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on 23-24 July, "once again openly underlined our determination to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people."

The Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders, along with the representatives of the guarantor countries, had talks aimed at reunifying the country’s 43-year-long dispute at the United Nations-sponsored discussions, but the latest round of a peace attempt failed in the Swiss Alps in June of last year.