Energy policies were discussed at the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Forum.
President Ersin Tatar and the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Metin Feyzioğlu delivered speeches at the event.
The 2nd International Eastern Mediterranean Energy Forum was held on Tuesday in cooperation with the Turkish Energy Strategies and Policy Research Centre, the Turkish Embassy in Lefkoşa, the Turkish Development and Cooperation Agency and the Ankara Social Sciences University.
The forum began with the reciting of the National Anthem and a minute of silence for those who lost their lives in the recent earthquake disaster in Türkiye.
Addressing the forum, President Ersin Tatar stressed that Cyprus had an important geo-political-geo-strategic location in the Eastern Mediterranean and pointed out that the future of a nation depends on its strength.
“This power is a matter of sovereignty,” the president said, adding “if we, together with Türkiye, are to succeed in continuing our existence in this geography, we must protect our sovereignty at all costs.”
He also pointed out that July 20, 1974 was a turning point in which the foundations of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) were laid.
“The special bond that exists between the TRNC and Türkiye has allowed the emergence of a unique conjuncture in terms of research, development and delivery of energy resources in this region. This is the success of our nation. Otherwise, we would be talking of a complete different geography, a completely different situation,” Tatar noted.
Tatar also drew attention to the water supply project as well as the economic potential the region harboured on energy resources.
Evaluating the Cyprus issue during his speech, Tatar said “sovereign equality and equal international status must be recognised in absolute terms for official negotiations to begin.”
He pointed out that a federal settlement would deprive Turkish Cypriots of sovereignty which he added was vital for maintaining relations with Türkiye.
“It is our most natural right to be sovereign in our own country, and it is the vested sovereignty of two separate peoples. The basis of our political policy and our political struggle lies in this vested right.”
“If you’re not sovereign, then you cannot maintain your relations with Türkiye as you wish. Here, you cannot authorize Türkiye to conduct oil and natural gas exploration in the region, so the sovereignty of our state is very important. If the official negotiation process is to be started in Cyprus, sovereign equality and equal international status must be recognised. We are voicing this view to the whole world,” Tatar added.
Also speaking, the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Metin Feyzioğlu said that the Cyprus issue was a geopolitical and geostrategic issue.
“Just look at the map and you will understand what I mean. The map will tell you what Türkiye is up against, the threats it faces and what it needs to struggle against. The Eastern Mediterranean is where energy lines intersect and the region is turning into an energy hub. Imperialist forces do not want a strong Türkiye that will challenge their interests. This doesn’t mean the west is our enemy. It means we must just take measures,” he said.
The Turkish ambassador added that all these developments made the existence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus all the more precious.
“The international community insists on not recognising the TRNC despite the fact it possesses all necessary criteria for being a state. Carry this island to the middle of nowhere in the pacific and it will be recognised in three days,” he stressed.
Also criticizing the Greek Cypriot administration, Feyzioğlu said that the Greek Cypriot leadership’s understanding of a federal settlement was a state dominated and controlled by Greek Cypriots.
“There can be no room for romanticism, for turtledoves when it comes to matters of the state,” said the Turkish ambassador, adding that what was important was preserving the state and national unity.