Çavuşoğlu: “The Turkish Cypriot people want Turkey’s guarantee to continue”

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu stated that Turkey is sincere in its efforts to reach a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem, within the framework of the Joint Statement on 11 February 2014.

The parties to the Cyprus dispute have not been able to proceed on four negotiation topics, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said. He also outlined that the Greek Cypriots had focused on guarantees and security instead of discussing topics on other chapters before a new round of talks begin in Geneva on 9 January. “Instead of focusing on clearer points in other chapters, they bring Turkey’s guarantees and security to the agenda,” Çavuşoğlu stated.

Greek Cypriot Leader Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akıncı are to meet in Geneva on January 9 after negotiations broke down last month.
Emphasizing that Turkey did not favour “giving any kind of concessions” to the solution, Çavuşoğlu said that if there was to be a solution, both sides should have a common understanding of what that solution should be.

The Turkish Cypriot people want the continuation of Turkey’s guarantorship because they want to feel safe, the minister said, adding that any agreement for a settlement in Cyprus should be part of the European Union’s primary law.