Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Unal Ustel on Sunday slammed the Greek Cypriot administration for writing to the United Nations against the memorandum of understanding on the construction of a natural gas pipeline signed with Türkiye.
“You cannot prevent the development of the Turkish Cypriot people, the strengthening of our ties with our motherland Türkiye, or the steps we are taking for our energy future," Ustel said in a statement issued by his office.
"Let them complain as much as they want. Together with our motherland Türkiye, we will continue to protect the rights of our people, strengthen our country, and build our future together," he added.
He said the Greek Cypriot administration had signed various agreements for years while disregarding the will of the Turkish Cypriot people, and that its opposition to an agreement between the TRNC and Türkiye was therefore contradictory.
The planned Türkiye-TRNC natural gas pipeline is a 101-kilometre subsea and overland transmission system running from Anamur, Türkiye, to the Teknecik power station in Northern Cyprus.
Signed into a formal memorandum in July with a targeted 2028 completion, the project aims to supply cleaner fuel for electricity generation and regional energy connectivity.
“The TRNC has the will to make decisions concerning its own future, development, and energy security. The Greek Cypriot administration cannot decide in which areas we will cooperate with our motherland, Türkiye,” he added.
Emphasising that the Greek Cypriots’ main concern was the strengthening of ties between the TRNC and Türkiye, Ustel said the Greek Cypriot administration did not recognise for the Turkish Cypriot people the same rights that it claimed for itself.
