Govt taking ‘all diplomatic steps’ against Turkey’s efforts to have north recognised

Cyprus will wield its diplomatic tools over Turkey’s attempts to have the north recognised, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Monday amid controversy surrounding the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) informal summit.

‘Officials’ from the north had been invited to the summit in Azerbaijan, prompting a condemnation from Cyprus’ foreign ministry, which described it as an attempt to promote the breakaway regime in violation of international law.

Letymbiotis said “these efforts by Turkey and the occupying regime are longstanding” and Cyprus has duly mobilised its diplomatic front against this.  

“The diplomatic footprint of our country is larger than our geographical limits. This is evident and proven through the efforts of the last few months, but also over time,” he underscored.

Asked to comment on Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban presence at the summit, Letymbiotis said this was why the foreign ministry issued a statement condemning the incident.

The EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell also took a stance saying the EU “rejects attempts to legitimise the Turkish Cypriot secessionist entity” which “recognises only the Republic of Cyprus.”

Borrell also specified that Orban did not receive a mandate from the EU Council to represent it during the summit.

“The European Union rejects the attempts by the OTS to legitimise the Turkish Cypriot secessionist entity, the so-called, internationally not recognised, ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’, as an observer in the OTS.

“This decision, pending ratification of Organisation’s members, is regrettable and is contradicting the fact that several members of the Organisation expressed strong support to the principle of territorial integrity and the UN Charter.”

Letymbiotis said the foreign ministry has made all necessary diplomatic efforts and any subsequent actions will be taken as deemed necessary.

What matters and what Cyprus wants, is to have this “solidarity to international law, for the Republic of Cyprus as a recognised state.”