TRNC News Today 1st July 2013
FOREIGN MINISTER ERK: “CYPRUS ISSUE IS THE PROBLEM OF CYPRIOTS”
The TRNC Foreign Minister, Kutlay Erk, stated that the Sibel Siber Government is the ‘Mission Government’ and in this respect, in the foreign policy chapter of the government program it was pointed out that the subject of
the Cyprus Issue is the Turkish Cypriots.
Minister Erk evaluated the news of the Greek Cypriot Press to Yenidüzen which is one of the leading Turkish Cypriot Newspapers, and said that the initiatives of the Greek Cypriot side to exclude the Turkish Cypriot side from the Cyprus talks and the desire of contacting directly with Turkey will not turn out as they expected. The Minister pointed out that the Cyprus issue is the problem of Turkish and Greek Cypriots and the solution will be reached as the result of the initiatives, approaches and the negotiations of the Turkish and Greek Cypriots and added that Turkey is continuously stating her support to a solution in the island. Erk also added that the Greek Cypriot Administration must not abuse and misunderstand the attitude of Turkey.
“Most important point is to solve the Cyprus problem”
TRNC Foreign Minister, Kutlay Erk, said ‘President Derviş Eroğlu informed the sides about the position of the Turkish Cypriot side on the Natural Gas Issue’ and underlined that there are two points that have to be taken into consideration. Erk said: “The most important point is to solve the Cyprus Problem as early as possible and to integrate the 
whole of Cyprus into the world and make Cyprus a peaceful EU member country. The second important point is to create an atmosphere that both the Turkish and the Greek Cypriots would benefit from the natural resources of the Island together at any time and in every political aspect.”
Stating that initiatives regarding interim solutions aim to extend the solution process and pose an obstacle for the process, Foreign Minister Erk said ‘extending the deadlock of the 50 year old Cyprus problem means extending to live under ceasefire conditions. Continuation of the current status quo is not preferred by the Turkish Cypriots therefore they proved this at the referendum held in 2004’.
Erk added that during the solution process of the Cyprus problem when the issues of EU membership and natural gas were not on the agenda, Turkish Cypriots always struggled for a solution under the UN parameters.
‘The current initiatives of the Greek Cypriots serve for nothing than a deadlock and continuation of status quo that is why we, as the Turkish Cypriot side, make a call to the Greek Cypriot side to intensify their energy to reach a comprehensive solution under the UN parameters in the island and to make a contribution for the people to have the advantage of economic, political and social benefits of the island. We invite them to make Cyprus a peaceful and friendly region for all neighbouring countries’ Erk stressed.
MALAS: “I AM SORRY BUT PRESIDENT BECAME AN OBJECT OF DERISION”
Stavros Malas who was the rival of Nikos Anastasiadis in the 2013 Greek Cypriot Presidential elections evaluated the first four months of the Anastasiadis government and said: “I do not think that there is any other government which has made so many mistakes in 4 months”.
Stating in his interview in the Greek Cypriot daily ‘Politis’ that “Small countries need big leaders to be respected” Malas listed the mistakes made by the Anastasiadis government as follows:
“First of all the formation of the Cabinet is wrong. Cutting deposits is also a mistake. Moreover, selling Cyprus Bank’s Greek branches to Greece and sending a letter to the UN Secretary-General about Alexander Downer are mistakes. I am sorry, but the President has become an object of derision. This was followed by a letter that he sent to TROIKA and I consider this as a tragic movement. The government shows characteristics of laying the political responsibility on others. Firstly Anastasiadis laid the political responsibility on the former government or any other person. He did this both in the Downer and memorandum issues. These are really bad regarding a small country which is being tested, because small countries need bigger leaders.
In the continuation of his statement Malas stated his belief that it is time for the Cyprus issue to be resolved.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office
