Erhürman: “There is an understanding in the Greek Cypriot side that time passes in their favour”

Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman stated that the Greek Cypriot Administration tries to extend the Cyprus negotiation process with the belief that the time passes in their favour.

Erhürman answered the questions of AA correspondent in London where he has been in order to make a series of contacts.

Stating that always there is an understanding in the Greek Cypriot side that time passes in their favour Erhürman said that the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades also expresses this in a very concrete way. That’s why we as the Turkish Cypriot side and the Republic of Turkey are decisive not to give an opportunity for such a thing.

Indicating that both the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey will not accept starting the Cyprus negotiations over from scratch Erhürman said: “We do not think that this will support the will for a solution. This is an approach that will extend the process and imprison us in an uncertain process.”

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriots put forward their will for a solution by voting ‘yes’ at the Annan Plan referendum in 2004, Erhürman said yet after 2004, unfortunately, in spite of the fact that Turkish Cypriots said ‘yes’, and the Greek Cypriots said ‘no’, the process did not work in favour of the Turkish Cypriots in the medium term.

Underlining that in spite of this, the Turkish Cypriots and the Republic of Turkey continue to search for a solution to the Cyprus problem as soon as possible, Erhürman added:

 “This process has moved us to Crans Montana. Turkish Cypriot side and the Turkish Republic put forth a serious will to reach a fair and permanent solution but the Greek Cypriot side mainly Anastasiades showed that they were not ready for a solution in Crans Montana”.

Pointing out that after the Crans Montana process, the Greek Cypriot Leader started to put forth different concepts, Erhürman said that for the first time the Greek Cypriot side gave some messages to the authorities that a two state solution and a confederation could also be discussed. He initiated the discussion of loose federation or decentralized federation open to the public opinion. Erhürman also added that after Crans Montana, the Turkish Cypriot side has given the message that if the negotiations resume, the process should be result oriented and based on a calendar and said that this was also stated in the report of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and has also become the official position of the UN.