Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (16.11.14) reports that Bulent Arinc, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and “Minister in Charge of Cyprus Affairs” and Dervis Eroglu, the Turkish Cypriot leader, delivered a speech during the military parade for the celebrations for the 31st establishment of the breakaway regime on Saturday November 15.
Arinc stated that the decision for leaving the negotiation table creates doubts as regards the sincerity of the Greek Cypriot side for reaching a solution ofthe Cyprus problem.
He stated that “the patience and wisdom that Turkish Cypriots have showed from 1963 until today is a source of pride for the Turkish nation and despite all the difficulties experienced, Turkish Cypriots managed to preserve its existence as a community and to defend their state”. He went on to add that the Turkish Cypriot side exerted many efforts for a just and permanent solution which will safeguard the rights and the political equality of the Turkish Cypriots during the Cyprus negotiations which were launched in 2008, stopped in 2012 and were re-launched in February 2014.
“As a motherland state we provided every support so that the procedure is successful”, he stated. He also claimed that Turkey hoped that this “last chance” for reaching a solution will not be lost, however, in a time that a progress was expected under the UN auspice, the Greek Cypriot side started the efforts of finding natural gas, pretending as if it is the sole owner of the island of Cyprus. “Turkish Cypriots have also rights on the natural resources in the area and Turkey will defend these rights”, Arinc stated and claimed that the seismic researches conducted by Turkey in the area are taking place in the framework of the jurisdiction provided to Ankara by the “TRNC government”, which according to Arinc is determined to safeguard the basic rights of Turkish Cypriots. “Cyprus does not need more tension, but the creation of a new climate for a solution and co-operation”, he stated.
Finally, he claimed that despite the efforts for reaching a solution, they will continue at the same time to exert efforts in strengthening the economy of the breakaway regime in order to move on to the future.
On his part, Eroglu alleged that “the efforts made by the Greek Cypriot side on the natural gas issue are not made for the realization of the dream of cooperation, as this is expressed in the Common Statement issued by the two leaders in Cyprus, but in order for the Greek Cypriots to gain an advantage against the Turkish Cypriot side and to continue the status quo at the island on their favor”.
Eroglu also alleged that despite the fact that the Greek Cypriot side appears to be in favor of a federation solution in Cyprus, in reality it has no intention of sharing the sovereignty of the common state and the international representation with the Turkish Cypriots.
Referring to the “citizenship” issue, he reiterated his position that they make no discrimination against any “TRNC citizen” and added that this has to be accepted.
He claimed that during this period the Turkish Cypriot side did not accept any map and that there is an understanding that these issues will be discussed at the end of the procedure. He said that the only reason that the Greek Cypriot side did not present a map was due to the stance of the Turkish Cypriot side. He also said that “they will never allow for a significant number of people to become refugees again, or to lose their job and experience a new trauma”.
He also claimed that if the Greek Cypriot side succeeds in its goals this will increase the tension and will create more distance between the two communities in Cyprus. He also called on the UN, USA and EU to exert pressure on President Anastasiades to return to the negotiation table which is according to Eroglu the place to discuss and to find solutions in every issue.