Foreign Ministry Rejects EU Cyprus Envoy Appointment As "Null And Void"

In a written statement, the ministry said the appointment was made unilaterally and "illegally" at the recommendation of the Greek Cypriot administration, without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot people.

According to the ministry, the decision ignores the will of the Turkish Cypriot community and once again demonstrates what it described as the European Union's partisan approach to the Cyprus issue.

"The appointment of a so-called 'Cyprus Special Representative' without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side and by disregarding the Turkish Cypriot people is a provocative step," the statement said.

The ministry argued that the European Union lost both its neutrality and credibility on Cyprus when it admitted the Greek Cypriot administration as a member in 2004 while, it said, disregarding the inherent rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people.

It also accused the EU of continuing to ignore the island's political realities by appointing another representative while maintaining what it described as a one-sided policy.

The statement further claimed that attempts by the European Union and the Greek Cypriot administration to create momentum ahead of a possible informal meeting on Cyprus were aimed at increasing pressure on the Turkish Cypriot side and presenting it with a fait accompli.

According to the ministry, such efforts are doomed to fail because there is currently no common ground between the two sides.

The Foreign Ministry also argued that the EU's continued support for what it called a "failed model" serves only to preserve the status quo, while reiterating that a realistic and lasting settlement can only be achieved through cooperation between two sovereignly equal sides with equal international status.

The ministry maintained that, if the European Union wishes to demonstrate its sincerity and credibility in contributing to a settlement process, it should first lift what it described as the political, economic, cultural and other restrictions imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people.

It concluded by stating that as long as the EU refuses to recognise the Turkish Cypriot side's sovereign equality and equal international status, and continues to disregard the will of the Turkish Cypriot people, unilateral steps taken by the bloc will be regarded as "null and void" and will not be recognised by the government.