Joint statement by former negotiators Ertuğ and Olgun

Twoformer negotiators Osman Ertuğ and ErgünOlgun made a joint statement in which they observed some “worrying developments” in this period of intensified Leaders’ talks.

Ertuğ and Olgun noted that a tripartite summit and multilateral meetings are expected to be held in the near future.

In their written statement, Ertuğ and Olgunhighlighted statements by Greek Cypriot Leader Nikos Anastasiades, as well as the allegations and statements in the Greek Cypriot press, which were a clear violation and reconstitution of the UN parameters which were obtained after years of negotiations. These developments are worrisome, the two former negotiators wrote, and causeda great deal of discomfort in public, even though they areonly partly true.

Ertuğ and Olgun claimed that the Turkish Cypriot leadership’s silenceon the matteris neitherunderstandable nor acceptable. Although the two Leaders agreed not to make any public statements after the meetings, Leader Anastasiades took advantage of theTurkish Cypriot silence, as most evidenced by his statements on guarantees.

The two former negotiators also statedthat “Today, while even the government partners express their concerns about the process, we expectthe President and his team to adopt a more upright and decisive position at the negotiating table: to inform the public in a spirit of sharing; to fostera democratic environment without grouping people as yes and no voters; and making sure that Greek Cypriot allegations arenot left without a response.”