Eroglu evaluates Friday’s meeting with President Anastasiades; “The common use of the water to be transferred from Turkey”, among the proposals of the Turkish Cypriot side
According to illegal Bayrak television (05.07.14) the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has said that the EU matters and the issue of citizenship was discussed during his meeting yesterday with the Greek Cypriot leader, as he called President Nicos Anastasiadis.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting which lasted for an hour and half, Eroglu said that they had held fruitful discussions on confidence building measures and the technical committees.
Stating that convergences have been reached on some of the confidence building measures, Eroglu said: “the joint visit to the anthropological laboratory of the Committee on Missing Persons was an issue on both of our agendas. We have reached an agreement on this”.
Stating that some of the proposals for confidence building measures tabled by the Greek Cypriot leader was unacceptable for the Turkish Cypriot side, Eroglu said that President Anastasiadis, despite the Turkish Cypriot side’s repeated objections, continued to try and bring the issue of Maras [Translator’s note: occupied fenced off city of Varosha] to the table.
Stating that all proposals and views put forward at Friday’s meeting will be evaluated on Monday’s meeting, Eroglu said that the issues of EU and citizenship were of utmost importance for the Turkish Cypriot side.
“The permanent derogations and the recognition of the agreement to be reached as primary law is vital for us.The Greek Cypriot side has a different approach to these issues. Nevertheless, it is critical for us that any agreement to be reached must become EU primary law. Why? So, that we avoid going to courts as and when a settlement is reached. However, if the Greek Cypriot side does not embrace the idea that the solution to be reached is bicommunal and bizonal federation on the basis of political equality, if it doesn’t see this as a lasting solution, then this will mean that all we will be accomplishing is joining the EU under the authority of the Greek Cypriot state. What we are trying to accomplish here is a new partnership”, he said.
Stressing that the Cyprus Turkish side also has sensitivities on the issue of citizenship, Eroglu reminded that permission was being granted to Greek Cypriots to carry out their religious duties in some churches in the “north”.
“We have similar demands for places of worship in the south. This was discussed at the meeting” he added.
Stating that proposals to open new crossing points were also brought to the table by the Greek Cypriot side, Eroglu said that similar proposals had been made by the Turkish Cypriot side in the past which had been rejected by the Greek Cypriot side. “The issue of opening new crossing points is a sensitive subject which must be evaluated carefully. We shall be re-discussing these proposals on Monday.
“We hope that we will conclude Monday’s meeting with concrete results”, Eroglu added.
Responding to a reporters’ question as to whether serious divergences did exist between the positions tabled by the two sides, Eroglu said that this was the case but that they will continue to work to overcome these differences in the meetings ahead.
On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.07.14) reported that during Friday’s meeting between the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and President Anastasiades, the Turkish Cypriot side has submitted totally 15 constructive proposals.
According to the paper, amongst them it is remarkable the proposal made by the Turkish Cypriot side regarding “the common utilization of the water to be transferred from Turkey”. “The Turkish Cypriot side, concerning the water to be transferred from Turkey, has made a proposal for the establishment of the joint working group which will discuss how this water will be used by the two sides in the future”, writes the paper.
