Joseph Borrell, the Vice President of the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security of the European Union (EU) has made a biased statement, as usual, on 27 July 2021 regarding the fenced-off area of Maraş/Varosha.
The European Union, which disregards the existence of the Turkish Cypriot People and their State, must now comprehend that fenced-off area of Maraş is the territory of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and that the steps in the area are being taken by the TRNC State and its Government.
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus had not taken any steps regarding the fenced-off area of Maraş in the past, in order to give a chance to the efforts in search of an agreement on the island. The rejection of the Greek side of all opportunities for an agreement which emerged in the more than 50 years wasted at the negotiating table, made it necessary to take steps towards the fenced-off area of Maraş, which has become the symbol of the status quo on the island. As it can be recalled, until today, all the agreement plans and the Confıdence Building Measures containing the fenced-off area of Maraş have all been rejected by the Greek side.
The steps taken by the Turkish Cypriot side in line with international law and the protection of private property in the fenced-off area of Maraş have been welcomed by the Greek Cypriot people. The fact that the purpose of the initatives made by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has been distorted, primarily by the European Union, is a clear indication of its biased attitude.
The only aim of the Greek Cypriot side is to trap the Turkish Cypriot people at the negotiation table forever and to continue its own way with the comfort of the status quo resulted in by the lack of agreement. The European Union, which has not kept its promises to end the unjust isolation on the Turkish Cypriot People, is trying to hinder any initiative that may allow the Turkish Cypriot People to develop economically.
While the European Union claims that it supports an agreement to be reached on the island, it also displays an unjust approach by disregarding the existence of one side on the island and glorifying the other side.
The European Union, inevitably, will realize the fact that the respect for the sovereign equality and equal international status of the TRNC is essential for reaching an agreement on the island.
