Turkish Republic Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said that the TRNC’s current international embargoes cannot continue forever, and there will be different processes after today.
Cavuşoğlu spoke during a joint press conference, following a meeting with Foreign Minister of Estonia Sven Mikser.
Answering a question about the unilateral drilling activities of South Cyprus, Çavuşoğlu said, “The unilateral steps taken by the Greek Cypriot Administration are not right, because the Turkish Cypriot people have rights in the reserves around the island of Cyprus.”
Çavuşoğlu said “EU countries should not hide behind the Cyprus problem anymore. After the referendum held in 2004, the EU did not keep its promise. The embargoes and restrictions imposed on the TRNC should be lifted as soon as possible. This is not fair. In this era, one side has been made a member of the EU but the Turkish Cypriot side is still under isolation and pressure. This is not right”.
Responding to a question on whether he will make a call to the Greek Cypriot Administration over their unilateral natural gas exploration, Estonia’s Foreign Minister Mikser said that he will encourage the EU to speak with one voice regarding this issue during Estonia’s European Council Presidency.
Akıncı receives foreign parliamentarians and press members
President Mustafa Akıncı received foreign parliamentarians who are visiting the TRNC for the 20th of July Peace and Freedom Day celebrations.
The delegation, which is comprised of parliamentarians from Azerbaijan, the UK, Hungary, Slovakia, Georgia, Macedonia, Madagascar, Uganda, Kosovo and Russia, exchanged views with President Akıncı over the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.
President Mustafa Akıncı briefed the parliamentarians on the Crans-Montana Conference which has resulted in failure despite all efforts made by the Turkish side.
President Mustafa Akıncı also received members of foreign media organisations visiting the TRNC for the 20th of July celebrations.
Ertuğruloğlu: “Efforts for a solution ended last week in Switzerland”
Minister of Foreign Affairs Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu has expressed that the negotiation efforts, which have been continuing within the framework of UN’s good mission offices for the last 50 years, came to an end last week in Switzerland.
Ertugruloğlu received foreign parliamentarians and members of the foreign press, to brief them on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and the negotiation process.
Ertuğruloğlu said that there are two states in Cyprus, and that these two states will continue to build their future with good neighbourly relations after today. He added, “I am not saying that there will not be any further negotiation efforts in Cyprus, however if there are negotiations, these can only be between the two states.”
Indicating that there are numerous options for the TRNC moving forward, and these can be realized with the support of motherland Turkey, Ertugruloğlu stressed that peace and tranquillity on the island will always be protected by the Turkish Cypriot people.
Çavusoğlu participates in the evaluation meeting at the Presidency
The Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu paid an official visit to the TRNC yesterday. After being received by President Akıncı, Cavuşoğlu participated in a working dinner at the Presidency.
At the dinner, they evaluated the Crans-Montana Conference which resulted in failure to find a solution to the Cyprus problem. The leaders agreed to hold high level meetings to discuss the next steps for the TRNC.
Turkish National Security Council: “Rights and interests of TRNC and Turkey will be protected”
The latest developments in Cyprus were evaluated during yesterday’s Turkish National Security Council meeting, including the outcome of the Cyprus Conference in Switzerland. It was agreed that the rights and interests of Turkey and TRNC must be protected in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Denktaş: “Negotiation process has ended”
The Leader of the Democrat Party, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Serdar Denktaş, stated yesterday that the negotiation process, as shaped by the 11 February 2014 Joint Declaration, has ended. Denktaş said, “This document is no longer binding for us.”
Denktaş added that the net result has been another year and a half wasted for the TRNC, as well as communal disappointment and political tensions within the TRNC.
Çelik: “EU countries must see beyond the Greek Cypriot narrative”
Turkish Minister of European Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik said that Greek Cypriot Administration put in pledge to EU’s future as well by their uncompromising attitude in Crans Montana and stated that “EU countries must see beyond the Greek Cypriot narrative.”
Çelik stressed that Turkey was on the side of solution, saying, “Although the Turkish side has shown a positive approach [during the talks in Switzerland], this last solution chance has been missed.”
“A proposal that calls for Turkish troops not to be on the island at the start of negotiations is out of the question,” he added.
Kiprianou: Anastasiades went to Crans-Montana not to negotiate and find a solution but to “play the blame game”
According to the Greek Cypriot newspaper ‘Politis’, which published the statements of leaders and authorities of Greek Cypriot political parties in relation to the Cyprus problem and the negotiations, Secretary General of AKEL Andros Kiprianou said that Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades went to Crans-Montana with no intention of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem but instead to “play the blame game and to lay the responsibility at the feet of others”.
The newspaper notes that Kiprianou made those statements to a Greek Radio programme last week, harshly criticizing Anastasiades.
Kiprianou also said that Anastasiades made the wrong decisions in Crans-Montana and that the Greek side was not prepared to discuss the necessary issues.
“Turkish Cypriots have no confidence in Anastasiades anymore”
An article published in the Greek Cypriot daily Haravgi indicates that Turkish Cypriots have no confidence in Anastasiades anymore.
The article notes that since the election campaign started in South Cyprus, none of the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades’ actions regarding the Cyprus problem produced any result. It also notes that Anastasiades did everything he could to break his relationship with President Mustafa Akıncı. The article stresses that Anastasiades sent messages of lack of confidence for both the Turkish and the Greek Cypriot communities.
The article also indicates that the only solution for the Cyprus problem is the bi-zonal and bi-communal federation based on political equality, as it is stated in the UN resolutions. It argues that if the aim is to live together and cooperate with the Turkish Cypriots, it is not right to prevent the Turkish Cypriots from participating in the decision-making mechanisms and to put forward proposals for a unitary state.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
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