Cyprus Reaction from Hadzivasiliu to Davutoğlu: 'Accept the Reality of the Illegal Occupation'

The Cyprus issue was brought back to the agenda at the "Progress, Geopolitics, Growth and Technology" themed conference organized within the scope of the 30th Annual Government Round Table Meeting. Former Prime Minister of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoğlu, made striking statements by addressing the Cyprus issue during the European Union enlargement discussions. Davutoğlu claimed that the Greek Cypriot sector was responsible for the Cyprus problem, referring to the results of the Annan Plan referendum held in 2004. Arguing that the Greek side's rejection of this plan led to the unresolved nature of the issue, Davutoğlu emphasized that the EU should not have accepted Cyprus as a member state despite the pending issues in its accession process.

A very harsh response to these statements by Davutoğlu came from Greece's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tasos Hadzivasiliu. Hadzivasiliu stated that the facts cannot be ignored, claiming that there is an occupation in Cyprus. Alleging that Turkey illegally occupies one-third of the island, Hadzivasiliu expressed that the European Union's decision to include Cyprus in its ranks was an extremely correct step. Hadzivasiliu, who also brought the search for a lasting peace back to the agenda in his speech, reiterated that a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal structure is the most suitable model for solving the problem.

In the later minutes of the discussion, the tension escalated further, and a harsh exchange of words took place between the parties. Davutoğlu continued his words by defending that Turkey's presence in Cyprus is based on international law and is highly legitimate. Hearing these claims, Greek Deputy Minister Hadzivasiliu reacted by interrupting him and expressed his reaction by repeatedly reiterating the same theses. Emphasizing once again that an illegal occupation has been carried out in Cyprus, Hadzivasiliu added in his statements that the opposing party will ultimately have to accept this reality.

This diplomatic spat once again demonstrated that the Cyprus issue is no longer just a matter concerning the local population of the island. The Turkish military presence in the northern part of the island continues to be an unresolved headache for both the European Union and the international community for years. While the Republic of Cyprus utilizes the diplomatic advantages provided by EU membership on the one hand, it relentlessly continues its lobbying activities in the international arena to change the military status quo on the island on the other. Crises experienced in such international forums reveal how complex and difficult progress toward a resolution of the issue is.

Such tense moments experienced in these types of international meetings have once again proven how fragile the geopolitical balances in the Eastern Mediterranean are. How the division in Cyprus directly affects the historical rivalry between Turkey and Greece, as well as the EU's enlargement policies, constitutes the main focus of the discussions. The fact that both parties defend their positions extremely clearly indicates that diplomatic efforts must be further intensified to reach an agreement. The constant prominence of both legal arguments and historical realities during the discussions does not allow for a clarification of which dynamics will come to the forefront in determining the future status of the island.