The so-called “foreign ministry” of the pseudo-state, denounced the reports about Turkey included in the conclusions of the European Union’s General Affairs Council on 17 December, adding that linking Ankara’s issues to the Cyprus is “unacceptable”.

In a statement, the “foreign ministry” of the pseudo-state, which was illegally declared in the occupied northern territory following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, claims that “the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU in 2004, in violation of international treaties, complicated the Cyprus problem”. At the same time, it says that it acknowledges as positive the reference to Turkey’s role as a candidate country, however, “the references to the Cyprus problem prove that the EU acts as a representative of the Greek Cypriot and Greek side”.

The pseudo-state accuses the EU of preferring to hold Turkey-EU relations on the Cyprus problem “hostage” instead of seeking a solution, and claims that a solution can only be achieved through the recognition of the rights of the Turkish Cypriot community, including sovereign equality and equal international standing, by proposing a two-state solution.

Furthermore, it claims that Varosha is under the full sovereignty of the occupiers and that “its opening has been designed with respect to property rights as guaranteed by international law”. It rejects references to UN Security Council resolutions, calling on the EU to stop invoking them.

Finally, it says it will not accept EU interference in the Cyprus problem, calling on the EU to encourage the Greek Cypriot side to recognise the rights of Turkish Cypriots, rather than targeting Turkey, in its words.