The statements in the joint declaration adopted at the Fifth Summit of the Southern European Union Countries (Med7), held in Southern Cyprus on 29 January 2019 with the participation of France, Italy, Spain, Malta, Portugal, Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration, provide yet another example of the unfair and unconstructive attitude maintained by certain EU members, in the name of the so-called “Union solidarity”.

The commendation in the declaration of the so-called efforts by the Greek Cypriots regarding the settlement process in Cyprus and the expression of support for their unilateral hydrocarbon activities in the Eastern Mediterranean clearly display the continuation of the Greek Cypriot Administration’s abuse of its EU membership.

It should not be forgotten that the main reason for the failure of the Cyprus Conference in 2017 was the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigent mentality, considering themselves as the sole owner of the Island and the Turkish Cypriots as a minority. The fact that in the joint declaration there is no mention of the legitimate rights of the Turkish Cypriots on the natural resources of the Island proves the persistence of this distorted mentality.

Turkey remains committed to taking the necessary steps to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots.