Greek Cypriot side, dividing the island further - Akinci

Turkish Cypriot president, Mustafa Akıncı has criticised the Greek Cypriot government for going ahead with plans for the East-Med pipeline project which aims to carry Israeli gas to Europe via Cyprus-Crete and Greece.

In a written statement issued on Thursday, Akinci said the East-Med pipeline project did not serve peace efforts on the island and the region.

Pointing out that it is not possible to contribute to peace and stability in the region by excluding the Turkish Cypriot people and Turkey on the issue of energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, Akıncı repeated that Turkish Cypriots too had rights over the island’s natural resources.

He also pointed out that the shortest, cheapest and most feasible route to transport the gas was via Turkey.

This is the most economically rational and best option to serve peace and stability as well as to contribute to a solution in Cyprus, he said.

Akıncı also warned that a grave mistake, similar to the one made 14 years ago by allowing the Greek Cypriot side to join the EU on its own, was about to be made.

He said that the Greek Cypriot side which had distanced itself from a settlement once becoming an EU member would lose what little motivation it has left if it went ahead with these plans, excluding Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots in the process.

This development will do nothing more than serve to further the division on the island, he added.

Akıncı called on the international community to support what was economically rational and reasonable.

BRTK