The Commission’s tough stance towards Turkey: We only recognize the Republic of Cyprus

The Commission sent a clear message to Turkey on Saturday, on the occasion of the inclusion of the pseudo-state in the Organization of Turkic States as an “observer member”, noting that the European Union exclusively recognizes the Republic of Cyprus.

“The European Union rejects the statements made by Turkey regarding the acceptance of the Turkish Cypriot separatist entity, the so-called, internationally unrecognized, ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’, as an observer in the Organization of Turkic States”, says in a written statement representative of the Commission for Foreign Affairs, Peter Stano.

Mr. Stano added that “this decision, which is pending ratification by the members of the Organization, is regrettable and contradicts the fact that several members of the Organization expressed strong support for the principle of territorial integrity and the Charter of the United Nations ».

At the same time, he noted that the EU “has made it clear repeatedly, including at the highest political level, that the EU recognizes only the Republic of Cyprus as a subject of international law, with the corresponding resolutions of the UN Security Council”.

“Any action to facilitate or assist in any way the international recognition of the Turkish Cypriot separatist entity seriously harms the efforts to create an environment that will favor the continuation of the talks on the settlement of the Cypriot issue under the auspices of the United Nations,” underlined Commission representative.

“The EU is fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and in accordance with the EU acquis and principles in the EU principles. There is no alternative,” he concluded.