Filenews 6 March 2022 - by Andreas Pimpisis
The Ioannis Kasoulides on his return to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, launched a campaign to promote Confidence Building Measures in order to achieve progress on the Cyprus issue and return to talks. An effort that is in danger of being blown up in the air before it bears fruit, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine creates a new state of affairs in the international arena and that also affects developments in Cyprus due to Turkey's behaviour.
It is precisely for this behaviour of Turkey that the Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs submitted the reservation of the Republic of Cyprus at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. Nicosia reserved to itself the right to a unilateral review or review of the decision in the event that Turkey attempts to instrumentalise this decision. And as he explains in his interview with "F", Ioannis Kasoulides, instrumentalization means attracting Russian tourists to the occupied territories through the illegal airport of Tymbos. In such a case, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, "our decision will be reconsidered and Turkey's attitude will be denounced".
Furthermore, I. Kasoulides stresses that "Turkey cannot be allowed to walk the path of irrationality, affecting the interests of the European Union and its member states and its commitments to NATO". On the question of whether Cyprus will go against the EU's decisions, the Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterates that if there is a case of instrumentalization "then the CCT will proceed to a review of how the decision is implemented".
I. Kasoulides admits that the effort for Confidence Building Measures becomes difficult with the current data and the overall behaviour of Turkey in relation to the implementation of the decisions of the European Union. Our conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs began with the controversial statement he issued, in which he spoke of the first invasion of European territory. While regarding Lavrov's statement, I. Kasoulides says that this will be put to the Russian side at a later stage.
- Your statement that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is the first on European soil since the Second World War was somewhat surprised. Was Turkey's invasion of Cyprus not on European soil?
- Is it possible to draw the conclusion that with this statement I forgot the Turkish invasion of Cyprus? Could it be that the statement we issued as the Foreign Ministry on the day of the recognition of the Luhansk and Donetsk pseudo-states was not clear in condemning all the illegal and unilateral actions that affect the Sovereignty, Independence and Territorial Integrity of all states?
I wanted in the declaration to highlight the unprecedented complexity of this international conflict, which due to its dynamics has attracted an unprecedented geopolitical interest from all over the world, while at the same time there is a danger that it will be derailed into a generalised conflict. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, I have an institutional role and a mission to defend the sovereignty of the state and I work towards this direction every day. This is open neither to question nor to alternative interpretations.
- Many were quick to draw parallels between the Russian invasion of Ukraine and that of Turkey in Cyprus in 1974. Do you agree with this finding and if so on what points, if not why?
- My answer to the previous question also covers your question. In both cases, as I have said, there is a question of invasion, illegal occupation and violation of fundamental principles of international law such as the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of states.
- Of course your report followed that of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov who referred to the "Turkish republic of northern Cyprus". And is this a slip of the tongue?
- I do not know whether this is a slip of the tongue or a deliberate statement by Mr Lavrov. It is possible that he was trying to highlight the need to recognize the separatists of Donbass as interlocutors of the official Ukrainian government, with a view to holding talks or negotiations to resolve the problem, just as is the case in Cyprus between the leaders of the two communities. Given the seriousness of the international situation, I prefer to raise the matter with the Russian side in the near future.
- The impression is given that Cyprus agrees with the EU's decisions against Russia but does not do so with its soul. For example, the decision to close airspace was made with caution. Why with reservation?
- You are right that the closure of the National Airspace was done with some reservations, and especially without prejudice to our right to unilaterally review or review the decision. The Republic of Cyprus, like all Member States, will have repercussions from this decision, mainly in the tourism sector. What is particularly troubling is Turkey's decision to ignore the European Union's decisions, and despite the fact that its NATO Allies have proceeded to an orderly closure of airspace, Turkey has decided to stand out in a provocative and problematic manner. We have stated that if Turkey instrumentalises this decision by attracting Russian tourists to the occupied territories via the illegal airport of Tymbos, then our decision will be reconsidered and Turkey's attitude denounced.
- The question arises, why do we reserve a reservation that Turkey will take similar action? In other words, if Turkey keeps its airspace open, will we open it up too? But Turkey is not an EU Member State.
- Turkey is a NATO member state and a candidate for accession to the European Union. It must therefore comply with and align itself with such decisions, both in the context of its obligations under its Negotiating Framework, as well as in the context of EU-NATO cooperation. Turkey cannot be allowed to tread the path of absurdity, harming the interests of the European Union and its Member States and its commitments to NATO.
- Do you want to say that Cyprus will go against EU decisions?
- I repeat that in case turkey is instrumentalizing the decision and in case it exploits the issue in a way that promotes the pseudo-state and the illegal airport of Tymbos, then the Republic of Cyprus will proceed to a review of how the decision is implemented.
