The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its reaction to the hydrocarbon agreements signed between the Greek Cypriot administration and Egypt.

In the statement, it was noted that the Greek Cypriot leadership had been accelerating its policy of seizing the rights of the Turkish Cypriots through unilateral actions since 1963.

Noting that during the Greek Cypriot leader’s visit to Cairo, a series of agreements were signed with Egypt and certain multinational companies regarding the marketing of hydrocarbons around the island, disregarding the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people, who are equal owners of the island’s natural resources, it was reiterated that “these agreements, in which the Turkish Cypriots are not a party and have not given their consent, have no validity and are null and void.”

In the statement, it was stressed that “Greek Cypriot leader Christodoulides must immediately refrain from taking steps that not only exceed his authority but also risk bringing our island and region to the brink of conflict.”

It was also highlighted that some countries, due to their own national interests, had signed various agreements with the Greek Cypriot side, which has led to the Greek Cypriot leadership experiencing a sense of power intoxication and consequently losing touch with reality.

“The Greek Cypriot leadership continues to falsely claim that it seeks a settlement on the island, using the support it receives from the international community. However, its real objective is not to reach a permanent and sustainable agreement but to maintain the status quo. In doing so, the Greek Cypriot side aims to sustain the unjust isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people while simultaneously strengthening its bilateral relations to perpetuate its dominance” the statement further noted.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that, given the Greek Cypriot side’s clear unwillingness to establish any form of partnership with the Turkish Cypriot people, it was imperative for the international community to recognize the reality in Cyprus—namely, the existence of two states.

“The Turkish Cypriot people are determined to initiate negotiations with the aim of establishing good neighbourly relations between the two states, based on the reaffirmation of their sovereign equality and equal international status” the statement concluded.