Akıncı: “Anastasiades should overturn the Greek Cypriot Parliament’s Enosis decision”
President Mustafa Akıncı has said that Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades must do two things for the negotiations to continue.
“Firstly, the Greek Cypriot leader should give a clear message to the Turkish Cypriot people and to the world that he does not support this decision (Enosis decision), and the second is to overturn it. Otherwise, it will not be possible to make progress in the negotiations”, said Akıncı.
President Akıncı evaluated the latest developments on the solution-seeking process in Cyprus. He said that the decision of the Greek Cypriot House of Representatives on 10 February to mark the Enosis plebiscite at Greek Cypriot schools caused public indignation among the Turkish Cypriot people.
Pointing out that the idea of annexation of the island to Greece which is called Enosis, is the main reason for the Cyprus problem, Akıncı said that this idea has caused pain and sorrow in Cyprus.
He said that in 1950, the Enosis plebiscite was held with an open ballot under the leadership of the church, for an unrealistic idea, and was accepted by 96% votes. Akıncı said that the present decision to mark the Enosis plebiscite sowed the seeds of Enosis in the minds of future Greek Cypriot generations after 67 years.
President Akıncı also emphasized that ELAM is a far right party in the Greek Cypriot Parliament, which encourages attacks on the Turkish Cypriot people in South Cyprus, and dragged this decision through parliament with only two seats.
Akıncı: “Eide should not make people question their confidence in him by telling some truths and hiding others”
President Mustafa Akıncı has criticized Special Advisor Eide over his statements following their meeting, saying that Eide should not make people question their confidence in him by telling some truths and hiding others.
President Akıncı said that UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor Espen Barth Eide told only half the truth about the leaders’ meeting last week.
Regarding his participation in the leaders’ meeting which is planned on 23 February, President Akıncı said that he will evaluate all the developments step by step until that day, and will make a decision once he understands the intentions of Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades.
Straw: “We made a big mistake by allowing Cyprus to become a member of the EU, which put more cards into Greek Cypriots hands”
Former UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has criticised the decision to allow South Cyprus to become a full member of the EU, and expressed hopes that the peace talks will continue.
Speaking to guests at the World Tourism Forum at the İstanbul Congress Centre last week, Straw responded to a question about the Cyprus talks by saying: “My views about Cyprus make me more popular in the TRNC, although I can’t say the same thing for South Cyprus. It is my view that we made a big mistake by allowing Cyprus to become a member of the EU in 2004, a decision that was taken during Papadopoulos’s term. This decision put more cards into Greek Cypriots’ hands, and thus their willingness to change the status quo also decreased.”
Straw expressed his hope that the peace talks will resume, adding that, “It is always beneficial to have moderate leaders in peace talks.” However, he also raised the issue of the division of Cyprus, saying. “The international community should clearly say to the Greek Cypriots: “If you do not start negotiations, we will approve the division of Cyprus.” If such a thing is said, negotiations may re-start faster. “
Siber sent letter to Guterres
The Speaker of the Assembly Sibel Siber has stated that the decision of the Greek Cypriot side to mark the Enosis plebiscite at Greek Cypriot schools harms the negotiation process and deepens mutual distrust, in a letter sent to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Sibel Siber also sent the Joint Declaration issued by the TRNC Legislative Assembly to Guterres, condemning the decision of the Greek Cypriot side.
In the letter, Siber stated that the decision may cause irreversible consequences and asked the Secretary-General to take urgent steps in order to return from this historic mistake.
Özgürgün: “The Turkish Cypriot people continue to resist Enosis”
Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün stressed during a reception that the Turkish Cypriot people continue to resist Enosis, and will maintain this resistance in the future. He added that Enosis will never be realized in Cyprus.
He said that it is the duty of the Turkish Cypriot people to be strong and ready, with full consciousness that the Greek Cypriot side will never give up on their Enosis dream.
Özgürgün pointed out that although the Greek Cypriot side is not willing to create a federation, the Turkish Cypriot side has expressed their wish for a settlement at every stage.
Yıldırım: “The solution must be ensured because Turkish Cypriots pay the price for uncertainty
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım stated that the solution to the Cyprus problem must be ensured because it is the Turkish Cypriot side that pay the price for uncertainty due to ongoing restrictions.
Stating that the Greek Cypriot side became a full member of the EU representing the whole of the island, despite numerous warnings in 2004 that this would significantly undermine the chances of achieving a solution Yıldırım added, “The circumstances for reaching a solution today are even more challenging. Any solution that is achieved must provide security on the island, consistently ensure the effective guarantee of Turkey, and allow a fair and equal right of governance for both parties.”
Çavuşoğlu: “Turkey has been with the Turkish Cypriot people thus far and will continue to be with them in the future”
Noting that Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades has not continued to negotiate towards ensuring peace in the island, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has criticized the Greek Cypriot side’s claims that “they do not need the guarantee of Turkey, they live in Cyprus in peace.” Çavuşoğlu pointed out that this claim was made only a few days after Greek Cypriot parliamentarians adopted a resolution, instigated by the far-right ELAM party, marking the Enosis plebiscite which aims to annex Cyprus to Greece. Çavuşoğlu reiterated that Turkey has been with the Turkish Cypriot people thus far and will continue to be with them in the future.
Kyprianu: “There are parties other than ELAM that support Enosis”
Andros Kyprianu, Secretary General of the second largest party in South Cyprus, AKEL, has said, “The issue of the Enosis plebiscite is already being taught in our schools. The resolution taken at the Greek Cypriot Parliament on marking the Enosis plebiscite is in honour of Cyprus’ Enosis policy which aims the annexation Cyprus to Greece”
In an interview with the weekly Kathimerini newspaper, Andros Kyprianu said that the two sides were trying to solve the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation in 2017, asking whether this solution was fundamentally schizophrenic.
Asked whether there is any other political party that wants Enosis besides ELAM, Kyprianu replied, “Yes. There are politicians as well as political parties. Their views have been declared.”
Kyprianu added: “Some of them acted superficially because they did not realize the significance of their actions. Others, such as DİSİ, acted on purpose for the sake of taking into account party balances before the elections. For me, their abstaining was totally intentional.”
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
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