The Turkey disputes a Cyprus-Egypt at the UN, citing “common ownership” of hydrocarbons and the rights of the pseudo-state in the Cypriot EEZ.
In another tension that is reigniting the field of Greek-Turkish relations, Ankara repeats with harsh rebukes to UN, directly questioning the legitimacy of energy agreements of the Republic of Cyprus and putting the issue of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean at the centre of the issue. Through a letter with a strong political and assertive character, Turkey invokes “common ownership” of the natural resources of the island, incorporating the Pseudo-state, which it presents as an equal rights holder, into its positions. The move added a new round of tension to Greek-Turkish relations, bringing the ongoing dispute over the Cypriot EEZ and the geopolitical balance in the region back to the forefront.
A letter of protest to the United Nations (UN) was sent by Turkey, arguing that the Cyprus-Egypt deal on natural gas in March violates the rights of Turkish Cypriots.
The indisputable fact
“I wish to underline the indisputable fact that the island of Cyprus and its natural resources, including the hydrocarbon reserves in and around it, are the common property of the Turkish Cypriot people,” the letter said.
It also states that the Turkish Cypriot people have “equal rights to these resources”, and stresses that “the cooperation of any country exclusively with the Greek Cypriot side for possible natural gas export without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot people violates the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Turkish Cypriots”.
