The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on the Eastern Mediterranean: Day Two

This Sunday’s UNSC reunion showed historical progress on the Eastern Mediterranean conflict regarding the Aegean Sea and Cyprus. Amongst the highlight of today’s discussions is the groundbreaking recognition of Cyprus as an independent country from Turkey’s government.

During the morning period, the British delegate turned the game on by asking the Turkish representative if his country is preparing any menacing military act. This was asked after Ankara mentioned that it was moving troops towards the Israeli coast. Turkey quickly followed up and replied that it was only defending its people and its legitimate territory, merely exercising the nation’s basic rights.

Shortly after Russia’s arrival on the debate, the Greek and Turkish delegates are begun to analyze the possibility of establishing a free market economy for the Eastern Mediterranean. Athens agreed to this proposal with the condition that it does not interrupt the Gas Forum’s pipeline project that was already discussed amongst the states from the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum in 2019, alongside the UK and Ireland.

The release of some breaking news shook the dynamics of the committee and shifted the power balance in Greece’s favor: Lybia decided to withdrawal from the exclusive market treaty with Turkey and support the project developed by the other nations.

After this, nations from the Gas Forum made a statement carried by the United Kingdom that “there are not any obstacles left to continue the pipeline project” and that they should “discuss it at another time, with only the signatory nations present”. The Gas Forum’s countries also intend to apply economic sanctions to Turkey in the event that the country does not comply, stating that they are only “trying to find the best solution for the international system” in Lybia’s delegate words.

Tensions got high as a series of accusations and disagreements took place between Athens and Ankara. Turkey and Russia’s long-lasting silence was broken as the Turkish delegate replied to these speeches as a “stupid decision considering yesterday’s events”. He also stated that “this project only shows how much the European Union can be dangerous, the negotiation methods are imposing sanctions to countries that stand on its way”.

The Turkish delegate affirmed that unless economic sanctions were retracted and an official apology was made, a thousand Syrian refugees who are now on Turkish territory would be released towards the European Union. The UK and Greece maintained their discourse that “the meeting can only end when Turkey finally submits itself to international law”. After this difficult period, the delegation of Ireland rose up to the role of mediator and made great progress on the negotiations. An initial gesture of a donation of one hundred million euros over a three-year timespan to Turkey was made. This money amounts to about 0,2% of Ireland’s GDP and is direct to “official initiatives to address the refugees entering the country”.

Progress continued to be made on UNSC’s projects on refugee security, demilitarization of the Aegean and support for refugees on the region Turkey agreed to the terms exposed by the Gas Forum’s members, promising to withdrawal their gas harvesting ships of the coasts of Cyprus in exchange for financial aid on the refugee crisis.

Even after a rogue terrorist group from Greece breached the Northern Cyprus Turkish Republic and caused a big scale explosion on a residential neighbourhood on the disputed territory, shocking progress was still being conducted. For the first time in decades the Turkish government stated that it “recognizes Cyprus as an independent country”. In response to recent attacks, Ankara promises to demilitarize the region in 3 years to guarantee the security of its people.

The resolution has already been voted and promises great changes on the panoramic of the region. This is a very special day for the Cypriot, Greek and Turkish people. Check the document to reach all of the information.