Çelik: “Decision to celebrate Enosis is contrary to the spirit of finding a solution”

Speaking about the decision of the Greek Cypriot Parliament to celebrate the anniversary of the Enosis plebiscite, Turkey’s EU Affairs Minister and Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik said that Cyprus issue is “a national case for Turkey”.
The Minister, who was speaking as a guest on Anadolu Agency (AA), made a statement and answered questions on the agenda.
Responding to a question concerning how the EU influences the Cyprus problem and solution seeking, following the disruptions to the talks due to the Enosis decision, Minister Çelik said:
“When I talk with the politicians in Europe, I say: ‘You did not solve the border problems and the problems in North Cyprus, but you have taken Southern Cyprus to the EU, which complicated this problem – , you are responsible for it. You constantly criticize the TRNC and Turkey, but you need to criticize South Cyprus and Greece instead.
“They think, ‘We are a member of the EU, TRNC has to join us.’ It is not possible. It can only be a parameter based on two constituent states. The decision to celebrate Enosis was far removed from the approach of two constituent states. Additionally, they are doing this while the negotiations continue. They made this decision in accord with a national populist party called ‘ELAM’, and the Greek Cypriot government agreed with it. This is a malicious approach.”
Mentioning that issues related to property arising after the solution will bring a tremendous financial burden, Çelik said, “If the EU puts its commitments firmly in light of this financial burden, puts forward an action plan and does its part in financing the solution, it can make a serious contribution”