Filenews 29 May 2022 - by Kostas Venizelos
The codes "Famagusta" and "Cyprus EEZ", compose Ankara's plans for the summer, which concern Cyprus. The parallel actions on land and sea are aimed, through tension, at imposing faits accomplis and consolidating the position of the occupying power. Both in Famagusta and in the sea area around Cyprus, the effort is unified, although it is expected that it will evolve in parallel in these two fields. It is part of a plan, which is part of a wider "operation" in the Aegean, Syria, Iraq. It is a high-stakes tactic, and no one knows how long the rope that Erdogan is stretching will endure.
July is characterized as a crucial month as all the information converges that there will be developments in Famagusta and the Cyprus EEZ, while it is clear that the occupying power, apart from the strategic aspirations, the quid pro quo it is asking for, as now with the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO, the mind is also in 2023, the year of elections and the completion of 100 years since the establishment of the Turkish state.
Occupying Turkey has already announced that its fourth floating drilling rig, Cobalt Explorer, which it recently acquired, will be sent in July to the Eastern Mediterranean. The information says that it will "drill" in an area south of Cyprus, along with drilling carried out by companies licensed from Nicosia, operating in the Cyprus EEZ. It is a move that tests reactions and creates/ imposes faits accomplis.
Indicative of the Turkish side's intentions is the content of the letter sent to the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, by the Permanent Representative of Turkey in New York, Feritum Sinirioglou. In the letter, dated May 19th, which is a response to his Cypriot counterpart, Ambassador Andreas Hadjichrysanthou, the Turkish official largely calls for an end to exploration and drilling in the area while signalling that he will defend his country's "rights" in the Eastern Mediterranean. In the letter, Siniriloglou, among others, states the following:
- First, it states that exploration and drilling activities are postponed until a political settlement is reached. "If the Greek Cypriot side (s.s. means the Republic of Cyprus) insists on unilateral hydrocarbon activities, then Turkey and the ''Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus'', will also continue to conduct simultaneous and reciprocal activities for the protection of our sovereign rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean."
- Secondly, it reaffirms that the occupying Turkey stands ready "to give its full support to ensuring a just and peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues, including through the fair delimitation of the areas of maritime jurisdiction with all relevant coastal states that it recognises and with which it has diplomatic relations, in accordance with international law; in order to further contribute to the stability and prosperity of the entire Mediterranean basin'. With this wording, it essentially puts Cyprus out of an agreement, which it does not recognize, considers it "deceased".
- Thirdly, it considers invalid the delimitation agreements of the Republic of Cyprus with neighbouring countries as the Turkish Cypriots have not been involved in them. "In the face of these unilateral actions, Turkey and the ''Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus'' have taken steps to safeguard their sovereign rights, in full compliance with international law," the letter states. Furthermore, it refers to the so-called agreement between Turkey and the pseudo-state, for the (illegal) delimitation of the EEZ between them, while recalling the coordinates it has submitted to the United Nations and the EU. According to these coordinates, the Turkish EEZ "touches" Akamas.
In the same letter, he also refers to the Tatar proposal for a two-state solution on the island.
Difficult handling for Famagusta
On the issue of Famagusta, the movements are part of the plan for the complete opening of the enclosed area and its colonization. It is expected that in addition to the work underway on the beach in front of the "King George" hotel until the Oceania apartment building in July, on the occasion of the anniversary of the invasion, there will be new announcements, possibly "important steps".
The question is who is reacting to these Turkish expansionist moves. As far as Famagusta is concerned, the reactions are relaxed, sluggish, as evidenced by the recent démarches about the new illegal actions of the occupying power on the coastal front of the enclosed area. Nicosia's reaction is based on the logic of complaints and démarches. Both the United Nations and the European Union are addressing the representations of the Cypriot Government without reacting too much. The recipients appear to be downplaying the new Turkish action.
The UN special representative to Cyprus, Colin Stewart, who was received last Monday by the Foreign Minister, Yiannakis Kasoulides, limited himself to saying that they are monitoring developments in the region and that these actions will be included in the Secretary General's forthcoming report on UNFICYP. At the same meeting, the Foreign Minister told Mr. Stewart that all this is happening while President Anastasiades has sent a letter to the occupying leader, Ersin Tatar, which includes the proposal for the MOUs. In that regard, it should be borne in mind that the idea for the letter belongs to the British, namely the envoy of Forein Ofis, Ajay Sharma. The latter proposed an exchange of letters between Anastasiades and Tatar.
Nicosia is reportedly concerned about the fact that on the Famagusta issue it does not find interlocutors, who react decisively and are willing to act as a deterrent. When we hear, for example, reports from third parties that "there is so much noise for a few metres of beach", this also shows their intentions. As far as the European Union is concerned, it remains in line with the United Nations' rhetoric on resolutions and has no intention of changing from that course. As an official of the Union noted, the issue of sanctions, for example, can be opened up if it is raised by the affected state, namely the Republic of Cyprus. It is recalled that the Minister of Foreign Affairs dismantled the policy of sanctions promoted by his predecessor, by putting forward and insisting on the CBMs.
LETTERS OF PROTEST AND SUBMISSION OF THE MOHS
The letter of President Anastasiades, sent to the occupying leader, Ersin Tatar, includes the proposal for the MOUs. Similar letters are expected to be sent to the UN Secretary-General and the President of the European Commission, while the issue of the MOUs and the new Turkish provocations in the enclosed city of Famagusta will be raised by President Anastasiades at the Summit, tomorrow Monday and the day after tomorrow, in Brussels. In the MOHs, as it is known, it includes the issue of Famagusta (to place under the administration of the UN the enclosed city of Famagusta in order to start the return of the inhabitants). The closed port of the city is placed under the supervision of the European Union, provided that the Ankara Protocol on Cypriot ships is applied in a non-discriminatory manner. In other words, the Turkish ports should be opened to the Republic of Cyprus. Also, operation of Tymbou airport under the administration of the UN, based on international law, with a FIR and on the basis of the Chicago Convention and the ICAO. Furthermore, to become an escrow account for hydrocarbons provided that Turkey recognizes the Cyprus EEZ. It is noted that reference is also made to the joint communiqué between Anastasiades and Eroglu (11 February 2014).
