TRNC News Today – 28^th April 2014

President Eroğlu: “Negotiations can come to a deadlock”

President Derviş Eroğlu said that the Greek Cypriot side should consider the period after 1974 in the negotiations. The President added that if the Greek side disregards the past 40 years the negotiations can come to a deadlock.

Eroglu recorded that the Turkish Cypriot side made North Cyprus their homeland and added that the whole world should acknowledge this.  Eroğlu said that there is the expectation that the Turkish side should always make concessions during the negotiation process however the Greek Cypriot side has never thought to make any concessions. Indicating that a give and take process will start at the negotiations, Eroğlu said that it is not possible to negotiate with a party which is only interested in taking.  Eroğlu added “I don’t see any will and sincerity at the other side.”

Expecting that the Greek Cypriot attitude will change in the following period, Eroğlu said that the Greek Cypriot side should also give concessions.

Foreign Minister Nami: “Speed of negotiations has caused disappointment”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Özdil Nami stated that the speed of the negotiations in Cyprus has caused disappointment.

Speaking to Greek Cypriot daily Politis, the Minister of Foreign Affairs – Özdil Nami said that the joint statement on which the parties reached a settlement gave a hope that negotiations would  reach a consensus and it carries great importance but following the joint statement process, the current stage of negotiations has caused disappointment in both sides of Cyprus. Expressing that President Derviş Eroğlu notified in writing to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon that he approved all consensus reached in Hristofias-Talat and Hristofias-Eroğlu meetings, but Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades did not behave in the same way, FM Nami reminded that the proposal of the Turkish Cypriot side to hold more frequent meetings between negotiators and leaders was also refused by the Greek Cypriot side.

As an answer to a question regarding why the Turkish Cypriot side protested a EU representative taking over an active role in the negotiations, FM Nami said that the Greek Cypriot side is very powerful within the EU and has veto right and the Turkish Cypriot side could not even send a representative to the European Parliament due to Greek Cypriot side’s refusal. Nami also added that in addition to this the Direct Trade Regulation has also not been approved and that’s why the Turkish Cypriot side did not accept an EU representative to sit at the negotiation table.

Adding that a representative of the President of EU Commission – Jose Manuel Barroso has an office next to the negotiation hall and his opinion can be asked immediately in case of need, FM Nami said that this was implemented in a perfect way during the Annan plan and Hristofias-Talat negotiations.

Moreover, as an answer to a question regarding statements of President Eroğlu on the issue of citizenship, Nami said that Eroğlu’s opinion on this issue is not new and it is a constant thesis of the Turkish Cypriot side.

As an answer to another question regarding territorial arrangements, Nami said that 10 years passed after the Annan plan referendum and ‘no’ votes of the Greek Cypriot side and many things changed in the regions included in territorial arrangements up to today. Adding that the time which has passed complicated the issue of territorial arrangements, Nami said that due to this reason, it is not possible for the Turkish Cypriot side to make the same implementations as in the Annan plan period.

In his interview, FM Nami also mentioned the issue of the closed city of Varosha and said that opening of Varosha is one of the chief issues of the Cyprus problem which should be solved in a comprehensive agreement.

Foreign Minister Nami is going to İstanbul

Minister of Foreign Affairs Özdil Nami is going to İstanbul tomorrow morning (29th April) at 09:35 in order to have a series of contacts.

Minister Nami will participate in a meeting at Bilge Adamlar Strategic Research Centre at 14:30 and will also visit some media institutions within the framework of his visit.

His Private Secretary – Hüseyin Özel and Political Adviser – İpek Borman will accompany Foreign Minister Özdil Nami during the visit. Minister Nami will return to the TRNC tomorrow night (29th April).

Source: TRNC Public Information Office