Erdoğan : “The Turkish Cypriot people and Turkey cannot remain the victims of lack of a solution forever”

In a message to Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci to mark the occasion of the 20^th of July Peace and Freedom Day celebrations in the TRNC, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said: “The Turkish Cypriot people and Turkey cannot remain the victims of a lack of a solution forever.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said: “Turkey will continue as it has until today to side with Turkish Cypriots, providing support and an assurance of peace, freedoms and stability both on the island and in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.”

“Turkey cannot be expected to remain an impassive spectator as the Turkish Cypriot people suffer because of the perpetuation of the impasse and whilst facing inhumane restrictions that have no legal basis,” Erdogan said in the message.

The Turkish President declared that the Turkish Cypriots have demonstrated on all occasions their belief in peace and their commitment to resolving the Cyprus problem. Despite the constraints they face, Erdogan said, the Turkish Cypriots have also demonstrated the importance they attach to the principles of democracy. These are the foundations that enable them to deal with any challenges.

Regarding the recent, failed unification talks between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots with the mediation of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Erdogan’s message to Akinci continued, “In the face of your honest attitude and your goodwill, the Greek Cypriot side responded with intransigence. Unfortunately, for that reason the Crans-Montana Conference in Switzerland did not succeed and the negotiation process did not lead to a solution.”

Erdogan concluded that, as in the past, Turkey will continue to be on the side of the Turkish Cypriots in the future. “Turkey will be the guarantor of peace, freedom and stability on the island of Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean.”