Yıldırım: “Four freedoms must be provided if there is to be an agreement”
Emphasizing that the full and effective guarantee of Turkey is essential, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said that the four freedoms, which enable free movement of people, goods, services and capital, must be provided in and out of Cyprus. “This is what we want from the UN” said Yıldırım.
“The Greek Cypriot side has managed perceptions so far by saying that an agreement was almost in reach and then abruptly took a decision which once again brings forward Enosis. This completely contravenes the agreement. As such, Akıncı has refused to attend the leaders meeting until concrete steps are taken by the Greek Cypriot leader to address this issue. Therefore, the leaders’ meeting today will not be held” said Yıldırım.
Yıldırım stated that the Greek Cypriot side had benefitted from the support of the EU. Indicating that Turkey would accept fair and bi-zonal federal governance on the island, Yıldırım emphasized that the full and effective guarantee of Turkey and the resolution of the security issue are essential to the solution on the island.
Burcu: “We expect concrete steps to be taken both at political and administrative levels to rescind this deeply flawed decision”
Presidential Spokesperson Barış Burcu has stated that today’s scheduled meeting between the leaders has been cancelled. Stating that the Turkish Cypriot side had made clear its position on the enosis decision and emphasizing the impossibility of talks progressing while this issue continues to remain unresolved, Burcu said “We sincerely hope that the necessary steps will be taken on this issue as soon as possible and a new date will be set.”
Burcu also noted that President Mustafa Akıncı had conveyed during his meeting with the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar that the response so far by Anastasiades on this deeply divisive issue was insufficient.
Responding to a question regarding whether there will be new initiatives by the UN, Burcu said that President Akıncı had sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and also had meetings with Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide and Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar.
Kalın: “It is the Greek Cypriot side which should take steps”
Deputy Secretary General and Spokesperson of Turkey’s Presidency İbrahim Kalın said that the Enosis decision of the Greek Cypriot side demonstrates the enduring aspiration of the Greek Cypriot side to unite with Greece, and raises concerns that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to rejuvenate their Enosis dream again.
Spokesperson Kalın was responding to the questions from journalists. Kalın continued that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had put forth a very important principle regarding the Annan plan. The principle was “Since the Annan Plan, we have always been one step ahead on the Cyprus issue”. Turkey has always been one step ahead in supporting the efforts for a settlement in the last 13-14 years. But we have seen the response of the Greek Cypriot side to the Annan Plan. They voted ‘no’ in the referendum and threw the island into a crisis. We have reached the same point again. The conditions have changed during the process. We as Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side have always been constructive. We have worked intensively to reach a bi-communal, bi-zonal and sustainable agreement in Cyprus. Therefore the Greek Cypriot side must take concrete steps to rescind this deeply divisive decision before talks can restart.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
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