The book titled "Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean in the Equation of Politics, Energy, Power" by Ilyas Tongüç, Member of the Presidency Council of the Felicity (Saadet) Party and Secretary General of Natinal Vision Organization (MILKO), published recently.
In the book, which deals with the Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean struggle from various angles, the truth behind the Cyprus-based games in the Eastern Mediterranean was explained.
While the book published by MGV Publications attracted great attention, the author of the book, İlyas Tonguç, used to evaluate the events in the Eastern Mediterranean in our newspaper. Stating that an equation without Israel is possible in the region, Tongüç emphasized the importance of cooperation to be developed with Syria and Egypt.
The Eastern Mediterranean region, which hosts a substantial part of the energy availability in the world, is the scene of a great struggle.
There are many important dimensions of the energy sharing war, which includes actors outside the region as well as the countries of the region.
From the perspective of Turkey, conscious steps to be taken in the Eastern Mediterranean issue, which is literally a war of independence, are of great importance.
İlyas Tonguç, who signed a valuable study on the region where forces such as the USA, Greece, the occupying Israeli regime, the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus and France, took dangerous steps, made important statements to our newspaper.
The interview with İlyas Tongüç, Member of the Presidency Council of Saadet Party and Secretary General of MİLKO, is as follows:
What would you say about the importance of the Eastern Mediterranean?
In the 1830s, Benjamin Disraeli, who later became prime minister, travels all along the coast to report to the British Queen. After visiting Lebanon, Syria and Egypt and the entire Mediterranean, he says, “If we want to influence North Africa, the Middle East and the Caucasus in the future, the center of it is Cyprus.” When Benjamin Disraeli became prime minister 20 years later, he puts Cyprus at the base of his foreign policy. Then, during the 93 War, with the Berlin Conference, the UK rented the island to itself. Afterwards, together with Lausanne, Cyprus is completely out of our hands.
THERE IS A SITUATION RELATED TO THE GREAT MIDDLE EAST PROJECT
Palestine, which holds Cyprus, holds Lebanon, Syria and the Middle East. Cyprus is a natural aircraft carrier, indispensable for Turkey's security. The issue of Jerusalem and Cyprus are two important issues intertwined. Since the fate of Jerusalem and Cyprus is the same, we have discussed these two central books together. The invasion of Iraq, the division of Syria into three, the destabilization of Lebanon and Cyprus... We are talking about an interconnected process. If you look at the issue only in terms of energy, it would be wrong. There is a situation related to the Greater Middle East Project here. Only in this way can we explain the fact that all the states of the world are here.
There is something beyond the energy struggle…
Yes, the issue here is not a gas issue. A chain of events is taking place within the framework of the Greater Middle East Plan and the new world order. In general, there is no land left undetected in seismic surveys. Drilling activities could not be carried out only in Lebanon and a part of Syria. Especially in the regions where we also fight against terrorism, as a result of the disintegration of Iraqi oil through the corridor and the disintegration of Syria, the transfer of energy from Lebanon to the Mediterranean and marketing it from there to the whole world provides an annual income of 200 billion dollars.
SOME STEPS TAKEN LATE
Do you think the Turkish government is conscious enough to be aware of the importance of the Eastern Mediterranean?
Especially in the Annan Plan process, a serious study was carried out in line with the work of our teacher Erbakan and the dangers of the plan were explained. The Turkish government took wrong steps in its eagerness to join the European Union. The EU was imposed on Turkey as a carrot. As a result, the government made a big mistake by saying yes to the Annan Plan. In the words of our teacher Erbakan, God helped us through the Greeks and the referendum ended in no. Some steps were taken late due to the wrong policy followed by Turkey during the Annan Plan process. In the same period, we saw the Exclusive Economic Zone agreements signed by the Greeks before our eyes. Can you imagine, if the Annan Plan had been accepted, Turkey, which has the longest border in the Eastern Mediterranean, would have come to a point where it could not move.
EAST-MED IS TOO COST
How do you evaluate the East-Med project? In the last period, we saw that the USA withdrew from the project.
It turned out that the transportation of gas in the Eastern Mediterranean to other regions through international pipelines is not a profitable investment. For this reason, in the past weeks, the USA also gave up the East-Med project by ending its project in Crete. East-Med means; It is the transportation of the energy source extracted from the Aphrodite, Leviathan and Tamar regions to Crete via Greek Cypriot Administration, from Crete to Greece and from Greece to Italy via a 1900 km pipeline. These studies are very costly.
PROJECTS WITHOUT TURKEY COST TOO EXPENSIVE
Do you think an equation without Israel is possible in the Eastern Mediterranean?
Certainly. There are two very important gas supplier countries; Iran and Russia. These two countries provide a significant portion of the world's reserves. Turkey is on good terms with these two countries and with another gas supplier, Qatar. From this point of view, Turkey does not need Israel, but Israel needs Turkey. At this point, Turkey should handle its superiority very well. Projects without Turkey would be very costly. In that respect, Turkey's hand is very comfortable. We can do anything without Israel, but Israel cannot do anything without us.
How can the Greek Cypriot Administration and Greece be pacified in the Eastern Mediterranean?
We have to look at these two actors as the EU and the USA. How; British soldiers were behind the Greek soldiers who went to Izmir for the occupation on May 15, and a similar situation continues today. We do not have Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration against us, we have the USA and the EU against us. We need to act knowing this.
USA WANTS TO ENSURE ISRAEL'S SECURITY IN THE REGION
How would you evaluate the interest of the USA, China and France in the region?
I think it is remarkable that distant countries show interest in a place with such low reserves. The USA wants world trade routes to be open. Second, the USA aims to control especially North Africa, the Caucasus and the Middle East. It approaches the issue in three main points. Accordingly, the United States does not want the energy in the Middle East to fall into the hands of anyone other than friends and allies. The United States also wants to ensure Israel's security in the region. Finally, the United States seeks to prevent organizations with Islamic sensitivities from gaining power.
China is tackling the issue commercially rather than militarily. China has an important work going to London through the Belt-Road Project. When we look at China, it made agreements with Egypt on the Suez Canal, with Israel on Haifa and with Greece on the port of Piraeus. It is trying to make the ports and their close ones suitable for trade. Russia has long been trying to land on warm seas. Russia proved that it is an actor in the Mediterranean with the bases it has acquired in Syria. Again, we know that Russia wants to buy a base from the Greek Cypriot Administration.
How should we read the EU's interest in the region?
The EU takes care of the interests of Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration. The EU's dependence on Russia came to a head with the Ukraine crisis. Europe is looking for a way to close the energy deficit. In this respect, the EU attaches great importance to the Eastern Mediterranean. The UK also monitors the region through its Akroturi and Dhekelia Bases.
Can Egypt and Syria stand by Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean equation, what should be done for this?
This is a very important point. Some steps are being taken, but developing slowly. Turkey wants to withdraw into a swamp through Syria. Whatever Turkey does, it should take the necessary steps for the integrity of Syria. Egypt is the leader of the region in terms of Arabs. Developing relations with Egypt is very important. Egypt should also know that it will be more profitable if it cooperates with Turkey.
Do you think that Turkey should declare an Exclusive Economic Zone area?
Some experts say that this should be announced, but if this step is taken before the Egypt and Syria issues are resolved, some problems may arise.
Sir, thank you for your valuable comments. What do you want to say as last words?
Cyprus is important to us. For this reason, no expense should be spared and necessary work should be done. A future together with the Greek Cypriot Administration is unthinkable. What are we gonna do? A future in which Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are together must be shaped. The people of Cyprus want this too. After securing Cyprus, we will gain a great advantage against the turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa. Steps should also be taken regarding the islands in the region. Many islands are armed despite Lausanne. Greece should be warned seriously in this regard. Greece must come to itself.