Cavusoglu boos Greek ‘maximalist demands’

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says Ankara is in favor of settling maritime disputes fairly and in accordance with international law against “maximalist demands” by Greeks and Greek Cypriots.

In an op-ed published by Jordan's Al-Ghad daily, Cavusoglu said friendship and strong ties between Turkey and Jordan were a confidence boost for the region’s future, noting commerce and investment opportunities in the post-pandemic period between the two countries.

The foreign minister also made reference to an academic conference in the works, which is expected to focus on the eastern Mediterranean and the Cyprus Problem, with particular focus on Varosha, the island’s ghost city also known as Maras in Turkish.

Cavusoglu wrote that Turkey had called for a regional conference on the Eastern Mediterranean to be “attended by all the actors in the region” aimed at turning the region into “a basin of cooperation and peace.”

Earlier this month, two weeks after visiting Varosha, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a televised interview where he alluded to the Cyprus Problem, saying Ankara was looking into the possibility of hosting an international conference on the eastern Mediterranean in which Turkish Cypriots would also take part.

Cavusoglu went on to say in his editorial piece that Turkey had utmost respect for the rights and interests of all parties in the region.

"We are in favor of determining the maritime jurisdiction zones fairly and in accordance with international law," he said.

He then contrasted Ankara’s goals with what he described as “maximalist demands” by Athens and Nicosia.

The two capitals have not favored the participation of Turkish Cypriots in international forums, citing the non-recognition status in the north except by Ankara.

Greece and the Republic of Cyprus have also been calling on Turkey to abandon what they described as “provocations” and unilateral actions that threaten stability in the region.

But Ankara argues that Turkey and Turkish Cypriots were being excluded by plans being hashed out in foreign capitals around the Mediterranean.

"We will continue to protect the rights and interests of both Turkey and Turkish Cypriots against the maximalist demands of the Greece-Greek Cypriot duo," Cavusoglu wrote.

Greece and Greek Cypriots maintain that Turkey violates international law by seeking rights already lawfully claimed by either of the two countries, while Ankara argues claims by Athens and Nicosia overlook the rights of Turkey and Turkish Cypriots and are not in line with international law.

Turkey has been on the receiving end of harsh criticism over its policies on Cyprus, following a damning presidential statement by the United Nations Security Council that condemned Ankara for backing the re-opening of Varosha in the Turkish Cypriot north of the ethnically-divided island.

Last month a presidential statement condemned Turkey over Varosha and called for a “need to avoid any unilateral action that could trigger tensions on the island and undermine the prospects for a peaceful settlement.”

Greek Cypriots in the south have labeled an Ankara-backed Turkish Cypriot decision to reopen Varosha as “a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.”

But Ankara argues that Varosha is part of territory administered by Turkish Cypriots, adding that the authorities in the north never previously opened the ghost town for settlement but had declared the area a military zone as a “good will gesture.”

The ghost town had been destined to return under Greek Cypriot administration as part of a negotiated peace deal under a federal solution, with many attempts failing time and again over the decades.

Greek Cypriots insist on seeking a federal settlement while Turkish Cypriots have introduced a two-state paradigm in the discussion, with the north accusing the south of not being sincere in establishing a federation.