The Foreign Ministry has reacted harshly to the joint statement made by the Greek Cypriot administration, Greece and Egypt after their tripartite meeting.

The Foreign Ministry said that their statements did not reflect the political and legal realities on the island.

According to a statement released by the Ministry it noted that there are two separate states on the island of Cyprus, one is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the other one is the Greek Cypriot Administration.

“The statements made and the decisions taken by these two states are binding only for themselves. The joint statement of the Greek Cypriot side with Greece and Egypt is null and void for the TRNC. We would like to underline once again that the counterpart of the Greek Cypriot Administration and other parties in matters related to the Cyprus issue is the TRNC” the statement noted and added that the aforementioned joint statement aims to distort the facts.

“First of all, the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean is a result of the unilateral activities of the Greek Cypriot side. It will also be remembered that the Greek Cypriot side’s first provocative act was the unilateral agreement signed with Egypt on the delimitation of maritime borders. We condemn Egypt’s support to the Greek Cypriot side’s policy, which violates the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people,” it continued to state.

It also noted that the Turkish Petroleum Corporation will continue to carry out its activities on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot people in the areas licensed by our Government.

“The unilateral activities of the Greek Cypriot side will be reciprocated with equivalent and simultaneous steps” the statement concluded.