TRNC News 22.2.2017 Negotiations stalled by Greek Cypriot refusal of political equality

Akıncı: “Negotiations have stalled due to the Greek Cypriot side’s refusal to accept political equality”

President Mustafa Akıncı has stated that the reason negotiations have stalled is due to the Greek Cypriot side’s refusal to accept political equality. Akıncı stressed that the fundamental principle of a “Federation includes political equality – there is no possibility of being preoccupied with minority and majority partners in a federation”.

President Akıncı was speaking during a joint press conference at the Presidency with the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who is in the TRNC on an official visit. Akıncı stressed that he is preparing his people for a solution even on the most difficult issues, and called on Anastasiades to do the same – particularly preparing the Greek Cypriot community for a rotating Presidency, shared with the Turkish Cypriots as part of the partnership state.

Akıncı addressed the Greek Cypriot House of Representatives’ decision to mark the Enosis decision in the schools, despite the delicate stage the negotiations had reached. “If you take the root cause of such conflict, ‘Enosis’, and vote to commemorate it, you must understand that it will cause great indignation among the Turkish Cypriots” Akıncı said. Adding that the UN must play a vital role in overcoming this event, Akıncı continued, “The UN should see the reality and not conceal half of the reality as the Advisor Espen Barth Eide did. We will wait to see the developments and then determine our stance”.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has met with President Mustafa Akıncı, the Prime Minister and political party representatives in order to evaluate the latest developments on the Cyprus talks. He welcomed the very fruitful discussions regarding next steps.

Stressing that President Akıncı, the TRNC negotiating team and Turkey have important roles in the development of the talks, Çavuşoğlu added these parties have always maintained their constructive attitude despite the fact that this was not always reciprocated by the Greek Cypriot side. Çavuşoğlu emphasised in particular that the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey had clearly demonstrated a constructive attitude at the technical meetings in the island and during the leaders’ meetings in Geneva, but in the last few months they have increasingly been confronted with non-constructive attitudes from the Greek Cypriot side. Çavuşoğlu added that the attitudes of the Greek Cypriot side and Greece in Geneva were an indication of their not being ready for a solution in Cyprus.

“We have put forth very clearly as Turkey and the TRNC what we want and do not want. The framework of the negotiations is very clear. The 11 February 2014 Joint Statement sets very clear parameters for the negotiations. The basic principles are very clear. One of these is political equality and equality, freedom and security. Both the Greek Cypriot side and the whole world should accept that the Turkish Cypriot people are an equal partner on the island, otherwise a solution will not be possible in Cyprus” Çavuşoğlu stressed.

Akıncı receives UN Special Representative to Cyprus, Elizabeth Spehar

President Mustafa Akıncı has received the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative to Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar.

The meeting was held at the Presidency and Turkish Cypriot Negotiator Özdil Nami was also present at the meeting.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, the UN Special Representative said that she had exchanged views with President Akıncı on the latest situation.

She added that the meeting was useful in terms of clarifying what was going on with the talks.

Asked whether tomorrow’s scheduled meeting between the two leaders will take place, Spehar said that a decision will emerge following her meeting today with the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades.

Siber: The events on the 20th of July were a result of Enosis”

Stating that Enosis was the beginning of the conflicts, Speaker of the Assembly Sibel Siber has said that “the Turkish intervention on the 20th of July would never have happened if there had been no attempts to achieve Enosis.”

The Speaker of the Assembly Sibel Siber made the comments after receiving the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. Speaking at the reception, Siber stated that all parties in the TRNC Assembly had issued an important declaration, adding that the opposition parties, the President, the Prime Minister and the civil society had all expressed a joint view on the Enosis decision.

She also said that, although the Turkish Cypriot people want to find a solution, it is not possible to ignore that a decision which disregards a society would mean that the Turkish Cypriots will again be forced to live in ghettos.

Arguing that they expect the UN to make an attempt to reverse the decision, Siber said that political equality is a necessity for a solution, rather than a favour offered to the Turkish Cypriots by the Greek Cypriots.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu stated that the TRNC Assembly reacted appropriately to the decision and reminded those present that Turkey responded accordingly. Çavuşoğlu also expressed that Turkey welcomed the reaction of the Turkish Cypriot Government to the Enosis decision.

Özgürgün: “Enosis decision is a serious blow to the negotiation process”

Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün has said that while the negotiations continue for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution, recognition of such a decision by the majority of the Greek Cypriot parliament was disappointing.

The Prime Minister received Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu during his visit to the TRNC. Speaking at the reception, Prime Minister Özgürgün has said that negotiation process is in deadlock as a result of the Enosis decision.

“As Turkish Cypriots, we know that the main reason behind the pain experienced on the island, and the root cause of the many lives lost, is the Enosis decision. While the negotiations continue for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution, recognition of such a decision by the majority of the Greek Cypriot parliament was a disappointment. It is a serious blow to the negotiation process. Marking the Enosis Plebiscite at schools and memorialising the past cannot be accepted. I hope the Greek Cypriot side reverses this decision so that we can reach a solution, but if not, the Turkish Cypriot people and Motherland Turkey have already determined to take the necessary steps in this regard”, said Özgürgün.

Ertuğruloğlu: “The Turkish Cypriot people do not deserve the current uncertainties”

Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu has said the Turkish Cypriot people do not deserve the uncertainty they are currently faced with, and that this should be ended as soon as possible.

Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu spoke before his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who was in the TRNC for a working visit.

Speaking to the press, Foreign Minister Ertuğruloğlu said that the developments on the Cyprus issue were part of the national cause, which is determined, conducted and defended jointly by Lefkoşa and Ankara.

Ertuğruloğlu continued as follows:

“The point we have reached in the negotiations is clear … whether the negotiations will continue or not. As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the TRNC, we are not a ministry that advocates the Turkish Cypriot side leaving the negotiation table, of course this would be extremely wrong. But we must not make an impression that the open ended negotiating process, which has been continuing for 50 years, can be continued for another 50 years of uncertainty.

“The dominant mentality of the Greek Cypriot side is very clear. They showed the same attitude once again with the recent Enosis decision.”

Emphasising that further steps were to be taken in this direction in the period ahead, Çavuşoğlu said “unfortunately at the point we have reached in the negotiations process for the future of Cyprus, we have started to see that the Greek Cypriot side does not share the same sincerity and constructive approach put forward by Turkey and the TRNC.”

“We wanted a lasting solution and supported the continuation of the negotiations with patience. Unfortunately, we do not see a similar approach on the other side. We gave clear messages today. If the Greek Cypriot side wants a solution then it should act sincerely and prove its desire for a solution” the Turkish Foreign Minister added.

Çavuşoğlu said that the TRNC government was aware of the expectations for the prospects of the Turkish Cypriot people, adding that it will always protect these prospects – including the issues of guarantees and security.