Nicosia condemns ‘Turkish attempts to promote north at OTC’

Nicosia condemned on Saturday Turkish attempts to promote the breakaway regime, in violation of international legality, noting that the Organisation of Turkic States (OTC) is once again being used by Ankara as a means to promote the illegal regime.

A press release by the foreign affairs ministry said that the Republic of Cyprus is taking all necessary demarches, demanding proper respect of its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the UN Security Council resolutions.

The ministry “strongly condemned” Turkish attempts to promote the breakaway regime in violation of international law and expressed, “strong disappointment and dissatisfaction regarding the participation of senior Hungarian officials in the Informal Session of the OTC” in Susha, Azerbaijan, where ‘officials’ of the north were invited.

It also described as a “serious slip” the Hungarian participation for which all appropriate representations are being made at all levels.

“As part of Ankara’s effort, ‘officials’ of the pseudo regime were invited by Azerbaijan to the Informal Summit of the OTC in Shusha. The Organization of Turkic States is once again being used by Ankara as a means to promote the breakaway regime,” it added.

The Republic of Cyprus has made all necessary demarches, demanding due respect for its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.

Nicosia, through the ministry, further expressed “strong disappointment and dissatisfaction regarding the participation of senior Hungarian officials in the Informal Session of the OTC”.

“We expect that all our European partners, including the member state that just five days ago assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, will fully respect the UN resolutions on Cyprus, the international law, as well as the obligations arising from their status as EU member states,” the ministry said.

“We expect each member state to show appropriate solidarity, responsibility and practical support on an issue of crucial and vital importance for the Republic of Cyprus, but also for the EU itself, and to act on the basis of the relevant European Council Conclusions,” the press release concluded.