Speaking in an interview to Turkish news channel Haber Turk, Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün has stressed that any potential settlement must support the TRNC’s economic and security interests.

“We are seeking a settlement where the TRNC will have a strong economy and the security of the Turkish Cypriots is safeguarded. We do not want a settlement at all costs” he said.

He added that a solution will be possible if the Greek Cypriots share the same intentions as the Turkish Cypriots, and that the Turkish Cypriot side has been at the negotiation table in “good faith” for many years.

Mr Ozgürgün also stated that the Turkish Cypriot people want to keep Turkey’s guarantee and that a bi-zonal solution based upon the political equality of the two constituent states is possible.

In relation to the water brought to the TRNC from Turkey via the pipeline project, the Prime Minister said that the current government had swiftly solved the crisis involving the distribution of the water shortly after coming into office.

He said that most parts of the country were already benefitting from using the water.