Eroğlu criticized submission of maps at Geneva summit

The Third President of the TRNC Derviş Eroğlu has criticized President Mustafa Akıncı for submitting maps at the negotiating table before solving other aspects of the negotiations that are important for the Turkish Cypriot people.

Arguing that Akıncı made a mistake by submitting maps, Eroğlu said: “The Greek Cypriot side is extremely satisfied that for the first time we have submitted a map that shows some of the locations that we are willing to give.”

In his statement to the Milliyet newspaper, Eroğlu stated: “I cannot say that I am hopeful for a solution. Mr. Akıncı said there would be a ‘solution by the end of 2015’. We saw that it did not happen. Then he said that there would be a ‘solution by the end of 2016’, but again it did not happen. One of his statement was open, ‘if there is not a settlement, then we continue on our path as the TRNC.’ In my opinion, if this does not happen, they should say ‘this is the end’, and they should not continue to look for a new process.”

Eroğlu said that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to remove bi-zonality from any proposed agreement, and that starting to negotiate from 29.2% of territory was not right.

Eroğlu said that there will not be any conclusion due to the attitudes of both Greek and Greek Cypriots, and that “Now, what we will do after this process should be discussed with all our people and with Turkey. There must be a way out”.Eroğlu also underlined that the aim of the Greek Cypriot side is to stall for time so they can start the hydrocarbon excavations.