We have been informed that TRNC President Mr. Mustafa Akıncı has submitted
today through UN, a new cooperation proposal of the Turkish Cypriot side to
the Greek Cypriots concerning the exploration and exploitation of
hydrocarbon resources around the island of Cyprus. We welcome and fully
support this cooperation proposal.
The proposal aims at creating a cooperation mechanism between the Turkish
and Greek Cypriots, as the co-owners of the Island on hydrocarbon resources
over which they have equal rights. As such, the proposal envisages
cooperation including revenue sharing and enables two sides to benefit from
hydrocarbon resources simultaneously.
If accepted, this proposal will create a new cooperation era between the
two sides, strengthen the regional peace, stability and cooperation and
also create a conducive atmosphere for the settlement of Cyprus question.
In this respect, we call upon all parties, including the UN and the EU, and
in particular the Guarantor States to seize this opportunity and support
this proposal, as well as to encourage both sides on the island to
cooperate with each other on hydrocarbon resources.
We reiterate our firm resolve in protecting the equal rights of the Turkish
Cypriots over the off-shore resources of the Island in addition to our
country’s own continental shelf rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. In
this respect, we wish to draw the attention of the international community
that we will maintain our determined and principled stance in protecting
the equal rights of the Turkish Cypriots, until these rights are
guaranteed.