Newsroom / CNA
The Turkish Ministry of Defense said Thursday there is no change in its position regarding energy projects in the Eastern Mediterranean that it views as infringing on Turkish rights and interests.
Defense officials said Turkey opposes a proposed undersea electric cable project involving Greece, Cyprus and Israel, and warned that Ankara would continue to respond as it has in the past to similar efforts.
“Turkey has the longest coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean,” the ministry said in a statement. “It is not feasible or constructive for Greece, the Greek Cypriot administration, or third parties to move forward with projects based on maximalist claims, while ignoring Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and attempting to cross areas under our maritime jurisdiction without our consent.”
Officials reiterated that Ankara “will continue to take the same steps it has taken previously.”
“There is no point in persisting with this initiative,” they said, adding that Turkey is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and rights of Turkish Cypriots and to counter any efforts to disregard Turkey’s presence on the island or upset the delicate balance there.
The ministry also warned that Turkey would not hesitate to use the powers granted under the system of guarantees if actions by the Greek Cypriot administration are deemed to threaten Turkish Cypriot security or regional peace and stability.
When asked about allegations that a new terrorist organization is being formed against Turkey in the Republic of Cyprus, officials pointed to recent remarks and commemorations by Greek Cypriot and Greek authorities marking the anniversary of the formation of EOKA, a militant group that began operations on April 1, 1955, with the stated goal of unifying the island with Greece.
“These messages and celebrations are noteworthy,” the officials said, describing EOKA as a group that committed atrocities against Turkish Cypriots and left a bloody legacy on the island.
They added that anti-Turkish sentiment appears to be on the rise in the Greek Cypriot administration, and accused families, schools, churches and the military of passing on pro-unification ideology to younger generations.
“Turkey will not permit any acts of violence targeting the security of Turkish Cypriots or the sovereignty of the TRNC,” officials said. “And it should not be forgotten that any such organization will meet the same fate as those that came before it.”
