By This post is also available in: ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ (GREEK) TÜRKÇE (TURKISH)
The concept of the Blue Homeland refers to rights and sovereignty over the seas surrounding a country. Recently, we have been hearing of this concept frequently in Turkey. So, where is our Blue Homeland in Cyprus?
The Egyptian Foreign Minister, and the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources visited Cyprus. During this visit, they met with their counterparts in the south and with Mr. Hristoduli-dis. The Italian company, ENI, and the French company, TOTAL, also attended this meeting. According to press reports, this meeting confirmed that the hydrocarbons extracted from Block 6 will be processed in Egypt and exported to Europe in 2027…
While this was all happening, did President Tatar, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, or the Minister of Foreign Affairs raise a single word of objection, or demand? No. Yet, just five or six years ago, both our political authorities and those of Turkey would speak out against the unilateral steps taken by the South in the seas and issue statements about protecting the rights of Turkish Cypriots. Now, there is nothing but crickets.
For this reason, the Hristodulidis administration ran riot in this field and thus, had the opportunity to act with ease. Eventually, it has even taken its unilateral action to the point of exporting hydrocarbons to Europe in 2027. In this vacuum, they partnered up with such companies as ENI, TOTAL, EXXON Mobil, and Qatar Petroleum, as well as Qatar, the US, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and European countries on this issue alongside Greece.
So, what created this vacuum? It is the two-state thesis brought to the agenda by Mr. Tatar. This thesis, which disregards the Federal Thesis based on UN parameters, has now led to the declaration of intent to relinquish half of our existing sovereignty rights both on the island and in its waters. In other words, the southern part of Cyprus’s entire Blue Homeland is being disregarded.
This is why they are not saying a word about the agreement developing with Egypt, which envisages the export of hydrocarbons to Europe in 2027. They are not even making a sound. This is why neither Cyprus’s nor Turkey’s policymakers are talking about protecting the rights of the Turkish Cypriot community in all the seas around the island anymore.
However, we must not forget the reality here. Based on our rights across the entire island, Turkish Cypriots have rights within the Blue Homeland, which encompasses the territorial waters and the boundaries of Exclusive Economic Zone surrounding the east, west, north and south of the island, just as much as Greek Cypriots do. This two-state thesis, which disregards the other half of the island, has nothing to do with patriotism.
Our Blue Homeland encompasses all the seas surrounding the island.
This article was originally published on 08.09.2025
Source: BLUE HOMELAND
