Erhürman: “Acceptance of Turkish Cypriots’ political equality is “indispensable”
8 March, 2018Turkish Cypriots vow to launch gas search unless Greek side pulls back
9 March, 2018Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret Özersay indicated that if the Greek Cypriot side wants to take common steps with the Turkish Cypriot side regarding the island’s natural resources, the channels of diplomacy are open. He said: “However if this is not taken into consideration, the TRNC will also carry out drilling and similar works by the authorized firm.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret Özersay, who accompanied the TRNC Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman in his meetings in Ankara yesterday, evaluated the bilateral relations and the stage reached in efforts to find a solution in Cyprus to an Anadolu Agency correspondent.
Özersay emphasised that effort to make the will of the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people more visible were also discussed at the meetings in Ankara.
Referring to the latest negotiation attempts, Ozersay pointed out that there is no current process for negotiations, and continued: “The last attempt made in Switzerland was unsuccessful. Negotiations for the sake of negotiating are not what we desire. We have lived through a bad experience which imprisoned the Turkish Cypriot people in this negotiation process for nearly 50 years.”
Özersay said that the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey are not inclined to a negotiation process which has become a vicious circle that cannot seem to reach a solution, even if improvements have been reached in certain issues.
Özersay stressed that the Greek Cypriot side should show that they are ready to share an administration, welfare and resources with the Turkish Cypriots based on equality.
Indicating that the issue of sharing natural gas on the island is of vital importance, Özersay said that if the Greek Cypriot side does not show that they are ready to share resources with the Turkish Cypriots, everyone is aware that a new negotiation process will not lead anywhere. Stressing that the fact that negotiations had not yet start should not cause concerns, Özersay said that there are already very important targets, including economic and social development.
Stating that the Greek Cypriot side accepts that natural wealth of the island belongs to the Turkish Cypriots as well, Özersay said that these resources and zones are not disputed.
The Turkish Cypriot side has given the message many times that it will not disregard the unilateral drilling activities of the Greek Cypriot side said Özersay, adding that the visibility of the TRNC and Turkish Cypriot people in the international arena will increase in the coming weeks, making it clear that nothing can be done in this region without the will of Turkish Cypriot people.