The Minister of Foreign Affairs Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu has said that the Greek Cypriot side’s approval on issues concerning the TRNC’s foreign policy or other matters has no meaning or validity.
Ertuğruloğlu was responding to the latest letter sent to foreign embassies in South Cyprus by the Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.
Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu on Thursday slammed the Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides for sending a letter to ambassadors based in South Cyprus concerning the status of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
In a written statement, Ertuğruloğlu said that the Greek Cypriot foreign minister’s latest move was once again proof of the Greek Cypriot side’s efforts to prevent Turkish Cypriots and the TRNC, from taking its rightful place in the international arena.
He added that it was also proof that the Greek Cypriot side had no other goal but to ensure that the inhumane embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people continue.
“The Cyprus issue is a cause for the Turkish Cypriot side to win back its rights. It is on this basis that the TRNC and the Republic of Türkiye have determined a new policy based on the island’s realities,” he said.
Ertuğruloğlu also pointed out that the Greek Cypriot foreign minister had made it clear that they would not accept or recognise a ‘status of forces of agreement’ or SOFA to be reached between the TRNC and the UN.
“Whether or not the Greek Cypriot administration approves of decisions concerning our foreign policy or other issues has no meaning or value,” he said.
Ertuğruloğlu reminded that the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) could only maintain its presence and operate within the borders of the TRNC through a legal agreement to be reached with TRNC authorities.
He also reminded that UNFICYP has carried out its operations in the TRNC to this day on the basis of good will shown by the Turkish Cypriot authorities.
“We have repeatedly expressed to the UN the need for such an agreement and that no further time should be wasted. We would like to inform all our interlocutors that we shall continue to pursue this matter with irrevocable determination,” the TRNC foreign minister said.
He added that the TRNC Foreign Ministry continued to adopt a constructive stance on the matter but warned that the Turkish Cypriot side will be forced to review its options and take all necessary steps should the UN continue to ignore the realities on the island and refuse to seek such an agreement with the TRNC authorities.