Akıncı: “Negotiations have stalled due to the Greek Cypriot side’s refusal to accept political equality”
22 February, 2017Burcu: “We expect concrete steps to be taken both at political and administrative levels to rescind this deeply flawed decision”
23 February, 2017Deputy Secretary General and Spokesperson of Turkey’s Presidency İbrahim Kalın said that the Enosis decision of the Greek Cypriot side demonstrates the enduring aspiration of the Greek Cypriot side to unite with Greece, and raises concerns that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to rejuvenate their Enosis dream again.
Spokesperson Kalın was responding to the questions from journalists. Kalın continued that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had put forth a very important principle regarding the Annan plan. The principle was “Since the Annan Plan, we have always been one step ahead on the Cyprus issue”. Turkey has always been one step ahead in supporting the efforts for a settlement in the last 13-14 years. But we have seen the response of the Greek Cypriot side to the Annan Plan. They voted ‘no’ in the referendum and threw the island into a crisis. We have reached the same point again. The conditions have changed during the process. We as Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side have always been constructive. We have worked intensively to reach a bi-communal, bi-zonal and sustainable agreement in Cyprus. Therefore the Greek Cypriot side must take concrete steps to rescind this deeply divisive decision before talks can restart.