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Anti-Babalar · Guest

Ankara uneasy with US ambassador's statements
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Ankara is preparing to make a demarche against the US if the words of the US
ambassador to Greek Cyprus are correctly reported

ANKARA - Turkish Daily News

Turkey is concerned about a recent statement covered in the Greek press
reporting that U.S. Ambassador to Greek Cyprus Ronald Schilcher said that it
is the sovereign right of Greek Cypriots to make agreements on oil and
petroleum exploration.

Turkey will make a diplomatic move to the United States if the news reported
by the Greek press is true, Turkish diplomatic sources told the Turkish
Daily News yesterday. The same sources said Turkey's clarification would
include these views: "Turkish Cyprus also has rights and authority over the
maritime areas around the Island of Cyprus. Moreover, the Greek Cypriots do
not represent the Island as a whole. Consequently, neither the legislation
adopted nor the bilateral agreements concluded by the Greek Cypriot
authorities have any effect. In addition, it must also be kept in mind that
Turkey has legitimate and legal rights and interests in the Eastern
Mediterranean. Parts of the maritime areas that are subject of bilateral
agreements intended to be concluded by the Greek Cypriot authorities also
concern Turkey's stated rights and interests."

In January, Lebanon and Greek Cyprus signed an agreement for oil and gas
exploration off the eastern Mediterranean. A similar agreement was signed
between Greek Cyprus and Egypt four years ago. Turkey warned Lebanon and
Egypt not to press ahead with an oil and gas exploration deal with Greek
Cyprus, saying Turkey and Turkish Cypriots also had rights in the region.

"The countries, which have suspicions about Greek Cyprus' right to sign
deals on oil exploration, should pursue legal and peaceful procedures,"
Schilcher was quoted as saying by a Greek Cypriot radio station. Turkish
sources also underlined the need to solve the Cyprus problem in line with
peaceful means and international law, quoting the words of Schilcher.

What we would urge is that the parties refrain from any actions that might
be misinterpreted by the other side; that there be full transparency so you
don't have any misunderstandings that might result in mishaps.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Sean McCormack on Feb.
1. said: "What needs to happen is that the parties should get back to the
root causes of the dispute. And the pathway, we believe, to that is open via
the United Nations. U.N. Undersecretary General Ibrahim Gambari has made
some proposals in this regard and we would urge the parties to look at those
seriously." Ankara prefers to adopt McCormack's words rather than
Schilcher's.