Yıldırım: “We wish to reach a fair, permanent and comprehensive solution in Cyprus”
5 January, 2017Akıncı : “This is a historic opportunity for a solution in Cyprus and it shouldn’t be missed”
5 January, 2017Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürtgün said that if there is no result in the Cyprus negotiations, then there will be a Plan B for the Turkish Cypriots.
“We are not at a dead-end; there will be a path forward” he stated.
Answering questions from Haber Türk TV related to the Cyprus negotiations process, Özgürgün said that the sides are not ready for the negotiations to start on 9 January in Geneva.
“We do not bargain the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ territory” Özgürgün said, before adding that there are “serious differences between the two sides.”
Prime Minister Özgürgün said that most of the Turkish Cypriots are aware of the importance of motherland Turkey’s full and effective guarantee. However, he stated that the Greek Cypriot side says that “Turkish soldiers should leave.”
Many things have changed on the island during the 12 years after the referendum for the Annan Plan, Özgürgün said, and “now you cannot say to these people to leave their homes and move to some unspecified location.”
Özgürgün also highlighted that there are some contended points relating to Administration and Power Sharing. “There are serious problems on the issue of equality. There are many issues which are contrary to bi-zonality. These problems have not yet been solved.”
Furthermore, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side’s conditions at the negotiating table are clear, Özgürgün said that bi-zonality, Turkey’s full and effective guarantee, the existence of the Turkish soldiers on the island and political equality are our sine qua non”.