TRNC News Today 26th August 2013

FOREIGN MINISTER ERK: “EVERYTHING WILL BE REALIZED ACCORDING TO DEMANDS OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS’

Evaluating his short duty term to the Turkish Cypriot daily ‘KIBRIS’, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kutlay Erk, has said that regarding the Cyprus issue  everything will be realized according to the demands of the Turkish Cypriots.

Erk added that some scenarios are raised every period regarding the Cyprus issue, but none of them will be realized if the Turkish Cypriots do not desire.

Regarding the work he has done during a month and a half long duty term to ‘KIBRIS’, he made important evaluations regarding the half-century long Cyprus issue.

Erk also stated that Turkey directly and clearly knows that she cannot make the Turkish Cypriots accept any agreement which they do not desire. The Turkish Cypriots have proved their own political majority. While doing this, they were supported by Turkey, but they have achieved this by their own will and experiences. Turkish Cypriots have sufficient experience to make their own decision.

Moreover, expressing that the Cyprus talks will re-start in October, Foreign Minister Erk said that in this respect Turkish Cypriots made contact with the representatives of the third party countries involved in the Cyprus solution and they did lobbying work.

Mentioning he said many times that Ankara will give the necessary support to a solution which will be reached in Cyprus, Erk expressed that the desire of Greek Cypriots to draw Turkey into the negotiations will raise doubts for the Turkish Cypriots.

Erk continued: “It is not correct to look for a solution in any other factors apart from Turkish Cypriots.  Otherwise this would mean ‘We are not in a hurry for a solution’, Erk said that including Varosha in the negotiations without any support from the third party countries would be impossible.

Touching also upon the issue of hydrocarbon reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean, Erk stressed that the Greek Cypriots should be more peaceful and sharing regarding this issue. However, Erk said that Greek Cypriot Foreign Affairs Minister Yannis Kasulides’ s statements were provocative.

Erk referred to Kasulides’s statement: “In case of Turkey’s intervention against  exploring ships of companies, she faces difficulties with countries that the company is registered with” and said that this statement means playing with fire. Erk continued that the Greek Cypriots should make a decision regarding this issue, if the 1960 constitution is still valid the Turkish Cypriots have rights. Erk underlined that if this case is considered as invalid, the rights of the both communities on the island must be specified again. Kutlay Erk said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has an important role during the negotiation process.

TURKEY CONFEDERATIONS SOCIETY STATED ARABIC COUNTRIES MUST RECOGNIZE T.R.N.C

Turkey Confederations Society stated that Arabic countries must recognize the independence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

This request was delivered to the Ambassador and the representative of Arab States in Turkey Mohammed El Fatah Naciri by the head of Turkey Confederations Society, Nezaket Emine Atasoy on her visit.

According to the statement made by Turkey Confederations Society, there must be intensive lobbying to Arab and Muslim countries for the target of the recognition of the T.R.N.C.

‘GCA HAS RIGHT TO VALUE ITS NATURAL WEALTH BUT THE INCOME THAT THEY WILL GAIN FROM THIS NATURAL WEALTH SHOULD BE SHARED FAIRLY BETWEEN ALL TURKISH AND GREEK CYPRIOTS’

The Ambassador of USA to South Cyprus, John Koenig stated that the energy issue is a factor which can assist the solution process and the process after the solution. Having stated that the wealth in the restricted economic zone which the Greek Cypriot Administration proclaimed unilaterally could be valued completely, after reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem, Koenig emphasized the income that will be gained from this wealth needs to be shared fairly between Turkish and Greek Cypriots within the frame of a solution and research and development work could be maintained parallel to negotiations.

 Source : TRNC Public Information Office