President Ersin Tatar responded to the recent statements of Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicos Christodoulides.

 

Whilst attention turns to the probable five-plus-UN informal meeting to be held under the UN mission of good offices of the Secretary General in relation to the Cyprus issue in the coming weeks, the Greek Cypriot side is intensifying its provocative and unacceptable demands.

The Greek Cypriot leader, Nicos Anastasiades, with regards to the five-plus-UN informal meeting, is stating that “the UN parameters cannot be changed; the Turkish side must abandon its plans for the complete opening of the fenced-off area of Maraş (Varosha) and that the Turkish activities in the eastern Mediterranean should come to an end”. We find these sorts of impositions unacceptable.

 

Whilst these impositions are being put forward as a condition, it is only serving the purpose of continuing the status-quo in Cyprus, and is aimed at placing dynamite under the five-plus-UN informal meeting.   Whilst negotiations  based on UN parameters have all ended with failure over many years in relation to the Cyprus issue, insisting that negotiations should re-commence under the same parameters is only to ensure that a settlement cannot be reached.


In relation to the Maraş issue, the opening of the fenced-off area of Maraş will be continued in accordance with the determinations of the Turkish side.   We are not going to submit to the conditions being put forward by the Greek Cypriot side on the matter. The Turkish activities that are continuing in the eastern Mediterranean are aimed at protecting the rights and interests of the TRNC and Turkey. For this reason, permission will not be given for the Greek Cypriot side to benefit from the energy resources unilaterally in the eastern Mediterranean, by usurping the rights of the TRNC and Turkey.

 

The Greek Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicos  Christodoulides, has stated that a “solution outside the federal basis is not possible”.

Our view is  a solution model envisaging sovereign two States with same equal rights that are in co-existence side-by-side which enjoy a relationship of cooperation.  


The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who made a statement following the collapse of the negotiations in Crans Montana due to the intransigence of the Greek Cypriot side, had stated that he is open to listening to new ideas in relation to the Cyprus issue. Having a solution model that is based on the cooperation of sovereign two equal States is indeed a new idea and a new path, which we have put forward and placed onto the agenda.  We would like to reiterate that this will be brought to the table at the five-plus-UN informal meeting and we will not take a step back from this.

 

Our expectation is for the Greek Cypriot side to help keep the channels for dialogue open, to abandon its uncivilised mentality and not put forward impositions and unacceptable conditions. It should not be forgotten that Turkey is the biggest and most powerful country in the region, and she is supporting a solution model that is based on the cooperation of equal sovereign two States. We believe this fresh idea is the most realistic solution model, which will yield benefits, peace and security not only for Cyprus but also for the region.