Turkey will protect the TRNC
Date Added: 14 December 2021

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that a solution in Cyprus could only be possible with the recognition of the existence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that they as Turkey continue to do whatever is necessary on the ground and at the table to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Turkey and the TRNC in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Speaking at the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly 2022 budgetary discussions, Çavuşoğlu also touched upon the Cyprus issue and the Eastern Mediterranean.

“This year, Greece and the Greek Cypriots tried six times to send third  country flagged research ships to our continental shelf and each time we prevented them, thanks to our contact with the relevant countries, the presence of our soldiers in the field, namely our armed forces” said Çavuşoğlu.

Stating that a solution in Cyprus will only be possible with the recognition of the existence of the TRNC and the vested rights of the Turkish Cypriots, Çavuşoğlu noted that there is no need to make futile efforts by repeating tried formulas, and that the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people must be recognized before a new negotiations process can begin.

Referring to the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, Çavuşoğlu said that America and Qatar will not enter the Turkish continental shelf without their permission.

“As for the agreement signed by Qatar and Exxon, no one can enter our continental shelf without our permission, no matter who they are. In addition, no one can enter the areas licensed by the TRNC without our permission” said Çavuşoğlu.

“Both countries – America and Qatar – have committed that they will not enter our continental shelf in the fifth parcel. TRNC and Turkish Cypriots also have rights in all the riches around Cyprus. That’s why we will continue our work for the Turkish Cypriot people in the areas licensed by the TRNC until there is fair sharing of the wealth in these areas” said Çavuşoğlu.