STATEMENT BY THE Press Office of the DEPUTY PRIME MINISTRY AND MINISTY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

We have observed with regret that the Greek Cypriot administration persists on advancing the agreements it has signed with Egypt and Lebanon concerning the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone in the Eastern Mediterranean region, and launched a bidding process yesterday which is the first phase of oil exploration works.

The highest authorities of our state have brought our views and objections concerning the issue to the attention of all the relevant circles, particularly the United Nations, and stressed that the Greek Cypriot administration, which represents exclusively the Greek Cypriot people, does not have the authority to sign agreements on behalf of Cyprus as a whole. I deem it necessary to stress once again that the agreements signed with Egypt and Lebanon by the said administration in violation of the legitimate rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people are not binding, in any way, on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The Greek Cypriot side’s stance which might lead to unnecessary tension in the region has revealed once again the need to find a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue as soon as possible.  The Greek Cypriot leadership which ignores that the natural resources on the island of Cyprus and its offshore must be jointly exploited by the two sides is trying to create new problems with its irresponsible policies rather than engaging in efforts to move forward the process aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus issue based on political equality within the UN framework.

Within this context, we call on the Greek Cypriot administration to renounce its provocative stance and reiterate our expectation that interested countries and companies, which intend to participate in the bid, are to take into account the sensitivity of the issue and to refrain from initiatives that will negatively influence the efforts to find a comprehensive solution in the island as well as the peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

16 February 2007,  Lefkoşa