Özgürgün: “Any solution should protect our rights”

Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün said that any solution should protect the rights and interests of both Turkish Cypriots and Turkey on the island. Özgürgün expressed that this is a national cause and that there is a clear stance on the issue of Cyprus.

Prime Minister Özgürgün met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and his delegation yesterday. In his speech during the meeting, Özgürgün said that Geneva meetings have failed due to Greek Cypriot side’s desire to stall the talks and underlined that the conference held in 1964 broke up in the same way upon the request of Greek Cypriot side.

Stressing that, despite the number of years that have passed since then, the Turkish Cypriots are once again facing the same situation. Özgürgün said that Turkish Cypriot side firmly believes that negotiations can only reach a result in Geneva without preconditions, otherwise it will not be possible to reach a result by delaying at the negotiation table. Özgürgün also stressed that despite the number of positive and constructive steps taken by the Turkish Cypriot side, these have never been reciprocated by the Greek Cypriot side and Greece. Özgürgün added that they expect the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and his Special Advisor on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide to reveal this clearly.

Furthermore, the Turkish Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu stated that there is a consensus on the path forward to be followed by the TRNC.  Turkey and the TRNC are united in their determination to protect the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots and for a permanent and fair solution based on political equality. Adding that as Turkey, they support the process with this understanding and within the framework of parameters determined since the beginning of the negotiation process, Çavuşoğlu stressed that Turkey will cooperate with the Turkish Cypriot side in case of a deadlock and determine the road map.