Illegal Bayrak television (24.05.12) reports that the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu stated that “a good opportunity to resolve the Cyprus problem was missed in 2004”.
“There could have been a settlement during the Annan Plan period, if the European Union encouraged all parties towards a solution. It was a missed opportunity” he said, as he spoke during an informal high level session of the United Nations General Assembly inNew York.
Taking his turn during the UN meeting, which focused on the role of UN member states in mediation, the Turkish Foreign Minister criticized the EU “for not making sufficient efforts towards a solution in Cyprus”, before the Republic of Cyprus became “unilaterally member of the Union in 2004”, as he alleged.
“The Turkish Cypriots approved the Annan Plan, but the Greek Cypriots rejected it. The Greek Cypriot side entered the EU despite this fact. The EU didn’t make any efforts towards holding another referendum before the unilateral membership was realized” he alleged.
Davutoglu also said that the UN-led solution period in 2004 was progressing successfully “which however ended in failure as a result of the Greek Cypriot side’s ‘no’ vote”, as Davutoglu claimed.