IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu commented on the statement issued on 27 July 2021 by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell on the opening of the fenced off Maraş (Varosha). Reminding that resolving the Cyprus issue would contribute to the stability in the Eastern Mediterranean region, IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu stated that the EU must make an effort to this end. Underscoring that the EU’s current stance was nothing but a continuation of its former mistakes, IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu stated that unless the current stance was reversed, the EU could offer no contribution to a solution. Chairman Zeytinoğlu continued as follows:

“As the Cyprus issue has remained unresolved, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Turkey concluded that a solution based on a federation is now futile, therefore they have proposed a two-state solution. Years long negotiations under the auspices of the UN have failed to yield results. Most recently, the negotiations in Crans Montana resulted in a failure. Subsequently, the pursuit of an alternative future for Cyprus is very natural.  The EU’s criticisms targeting Turkey’s Cyprus policy are highly unfair. The EU missed a vital opportunity when it admitted the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus as the legitimate representative of the island as a member in 2004. While the Turkish Cypriots who accepted the Annan Plan were punished, Greek Cypriots who rejected the Annan Plan with overwhelming majority were rewarded. In the end, the side which acted contrary to EU values was rewarded. None of the promises made at that time to end the isolation of the northern side of the island were kept. The EU maintained its stance and continued with non-recognition of the TRNC. However, none of the EU's suggestions have succeeded in fostering a solution in Cyprus. The solutions which do not recognize the existence of the TRNC have no chance of succeeding. Realising this situation, the Turkish government and the TRNC changed their approach to the Cyprus issue. Lately, some criticisms were voiced by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell on the opening of the fenced off Maraş. While the EU opposes changes to the status quo, it has failed to come up with a constructive proposal. The Eastern Mediterranean Conference proposed under the positive agenda aiming to revitalise Turkey-EU relations is yet to convene. The EU’s actions do not go beyond conveying the claims of the Greek and Greek Cypriot duo. In this sense, the EU continues to repeat its past mistakes. The EU complicates its relations with Turkey because of the Cyprus issue. Instead of improving its relations with a regional actor of 80 million people and reviving the accession process, the EU chooses to drag the relations into a dead-end by backing the Greek Cypriot Administration. Replacing this stance with a more objective and equitable approach seems the only way that could consolidate the EU’s influence in the region.”