The “Ministry of Foreign Affairs” questioned the ability of European Commission Executive Vice President Raffaele Fito to act as an impartial mediator between the two sides, following the European Commission’s announcement of his appointment as special representative for the Cyprus issue.

In a statement released today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs argues that Mr. Fito has, in his previous statements, expressed positions that do not recognize what the Turkish Cypriot side describes as “sovereign equality” and “equal international status,” and therefore considers any claim of an equal dialogue with both sides of the island to be “baseless.” According to the statement, Mr. Fito or any other representative of the Union does not, as noted, hold “any official capacity” that would allow him to intervene in the Cyprus issue.

It further characterizes the appointment as a move that was made, as it claims, without its own consent and “completely disregarding the will of the Turkish Cypriot people,” following a recommendation by the Republic of Cyprus. He calls the claims by European sources that the appointment will contribute to confidence-building and institutional dialogue a “fraud,” arguing that it runs counter to the Union’s historical role on the island.

In the statement, the Republic of Cyprus is described as an EU member state that joined, according to the “Foreign Ministry’s” claims, “in violation of the law,” with the EU being characterized as “completely biased” on the Cyprus issue. The “ministry” further claims that the EU has failed to honor its commitments to lift the “unjust isolation” of the Turkish Cypriot community, characterizing it as an “unreliable actor.”

The “Foreign Ministry” concludes that any fair and sustainable solution requires, in its view, the recognition of “two separate states” on the island, and reiterates that it will not participate in any negotiation process “without prior recognition of sovereign equality and equal international status.”

Source: CNA