The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement regarding remarks made by the European Union Commission Vice President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, expressing discomfort over the presence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).
The Ministry stressed that it was a great audacity for the EU to attempt to pressure OTS members by referencing the UN Charter.
In a written statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled that, on November 7, 2024, European Union Commission Vice President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, referred to the representation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) at the 11th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) Council of Heads of State, held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on November 6, 2024, as a new step by the OTS to legitimize the TRNC.
The Ministry interpreted Borrell’s statement about the EU being uncomfortable with this situation as “a manifestation of resentment over the new vision gaining ground.”
“Such baseless statements can never change the fact that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, established by the Turkish Cypriots exercising their inherent rights to sovereign equality, equal international status, and self-determination, is one of the two states on the island. With this unfortunate statement, the EU has once again confirmed its inability to remain impartial on the Cyprus issue. We call on the EU to abandon its biased and erroneous stance and to cease acting as a spokesperson for the Greek side” the statement said.
The statement further urged the EU “to put an end to its policy of imposing costs, exerting pressure, and restricting rights in all areas against the Turkish Cypriot side and people, who have freely chosen a two-state solution.”
“By unilaterally admitting the Greek Cypriot side as a member before resolving the Cyprus issue, contrary to its own values and principles, the EU has rendered the matter intractable. For the EU to attempt to pressure OTS members by referencing the UN Charter is a great audacity. We reiterate our call for the EU to end this stance that serves no purpose other than to further embolden the Greek Cypriot side, while ignoring the reality that the Turkish Cypriot people have as much say in the island’s future as the Greek Cypriot side” the statement added.
“Such actions, contrary to their intended outcomes, only demonstrate the legitimacy of our struggle and strengthen our resolve to defend our rightful cause on every platform” the Foreign Ministry statement concluded.