Foreign Ministry spokesperson Konstantinos Koutras stated the following in response to journalists’ questions regarding today’s statements from Turkish President Erdogan in occupied Cyprus:
“The newly elected President of Turkey, Mr. Erdogan, carried out an illegal visit to the occupied section of Cyprus, making disappointing statements that simply confirm Ankara’s persistence in its aggressive policy against the Republic of Cyprus, a member state of the United Nations and of the European Union, accession to which Turkey is pursuing. And Turkey’s European course passes through recognition of, and normalization of its relations with, the Republic of Cyprus.
With these statements, Mr. Erdogan attempted, among other things, to equate certain of Greece’s international obligations with Turkey’s heavy burden of responsibility regarding the Cyprus issue. Any such parallel is historically and legally groundless and, thus, politically unacceptable. Turkey bears full and exclusive responsibility for ending the illegal military occupation and ongoing crime of settlement in Cyprus, and for restoring the right of all Greek Cypriot refugees to return to their hearths and property.
Moreover, if Turkey wants, as it claims, to facilitate the negotiations for the resolution of the Cyprus issue, it should, without any further delay, proceed to practical moves of good will, comply with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, and end any illegal or provocative activity in the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf.”
mfa.gr
1/9/14
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