The “Ministry of Foreign Affairs” describes this as a unilateral intervention by the European Union in developments regarding the Cyprus issue, in light of the upcoming informal meeting, in a related announcement issued on Monday, the appointment of a European Commission special representative for the Cyprus issue, arguing that the move aims to create a fait accompli and to exert pressure on the Turkish Cypriots.

In its statement, the “Ministry of Foreign Affairs” condemns the appointment of European Commission Vice President Raffaele Fito as special representative for the Cyprus issue, claiming that it was made “at the suggestion of the Greek Cypriot side,” without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot community. It characterizes the move as a “provocative step” which, it states, once again demonstrates the European Union’s “biased stance” on the Cyprus issue.

The statement also argues that the European Union has lost its neutrality and credibility since 2004, when, it is claimed, it unilaterally accepted the Republic of Cyprus as a member state, while reiterating that the Union ignores the “rights and interests” of Turkish Cypriots.

The “Ministry of Foreign Affairs” further claims that, at a time when “there is no common ground between the two sides,” the EU is attempting, ahead of the informal meeting expected in the coming days, to create an “artificial process” and exert pressure on the Turkish Cypriot side, seeking, as it states, “to create a fait accompli.” It states that these efforts “are doomed to fail.”

At the same time, the statement reiterates the position that the EU is attempting to revive “an exhausted model for a solution,” which, according to the statement, serves to maintain the status quo. It argues that a “realistic and lasting agreement” can be achieved only on the basis of “sovereign equality” and “equal international status” for both sides.

Finally, it calls on the European Union to lift the political, economic, and cultural restrictions imposed on Turkish Cypriots, arguing that as long as it does not recognize “sovereign equality” and continues to ignore the will of the Turkish Cypriot community, “the EU’s unilateral steps will be considered baseless” and “will not be subject to dialogue by our government.”

Source: CNA