Eroglu: The Greek Cypriots want Famagusta area; Talat: Eroglu did everything to ruin the negotiating process
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (27.01.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has alleged that the Greek Cypriots wanted “the borders of Famagusta municipality” and added: “They come before us with these excessive demands. There is a wish of forcing our people living within the Famagusta municipality borders to migrate again. We are looking for an agreement by which our people will not migrate again”.
In statements during a visit to occupied Famagusta area, Eroglu argued that he is a person who had been at the negotiating table for five years and has negotiated “in the direction of people’s views and expectations”, trying to do the best for carrying the “people’s voice” to the negotiating table.
Referring to the accusations made against him by the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG) that he does not want a solution, Eroglu alleged: “Anastasiades abandoned the table. No one says that he does not want a solution. Who want a solution, the one who stays at the table or the one who abandons it? Unfortunately, our people say this before the Greek Cypriots say it. […] It is ridiculous for them to say that I do not want a solution even though that they are the ones who left the table”.
Eroglu alleged that they want an agreement, but not any agreement and added that they have to know what it is meant by a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal based on political equality.
Referring to the presence of the UN Peace-Keeping Force in Cyprus, he claimed that as long as UNFICYP is on the island it is not possible for the Greek Cypriots to reach an agreement with the Turkish Cypriots.
Insisting on the allegation that the Greek Cypriots prepared a map on the territory issue, Eroglu said that “a lady is going around and tries to present us as liars by saying that there is no map”. Eroglu argued that “a map prepared by the Greek Cypriots exists” and reiterated the allegation that the Turkish Cypriot side had submitted criteria on the territory issue during the Geneva tripartite summit and that the UN Secretary-General had said that a map cannot be submitted without an agreement on all the other issues. He argued:
“That is why Anastasiades came with names of villages this time. We ignored them. The whole of the Famagusta borders will remain to the Greek Cypriots. They want South Mesaoria, from Yerolakkos to Morfou, from Koma tou Yialou to Karpasia. In parallel to this [they want] touristic antiquities and religious places and the villages around them, Kythrea, Neo Chorio, Trahoni and Voni. When we put these side by side, does a map not come up? And they do not remain with this. They will settle their refugees in the lands which will remain to us”.
Noting that the Greek Cypriots do not accept Turkey’s guarantees, the existence of the Turkish army and the Turkish settlers, Eroglu said that what he described as “excessive Greek Cypriot demands”, including the “demands” on the territory issue could not be accepted and added that we are far away from reaching an agreement.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.01.15) reports that former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat has accused Eroglu of doing whatever he could to ruin the negotiating process. Talat noted that with Turkey’s “suggestion” Eroglu stated that he would continue negotiating from the point at which Talat had left the negotiations. He added that, in spite of this, he first took out the “cross voting” principle from the package submitted on the chapter of governance and power sharing and led the package to collapse. Afterwards, he added, Eroglu abandoned the negotiations because of the EU term presidency of the Republic of Cyprus, waited for the presidential elections and used delaying tactics during the process before reaching the joint declaration.
“When the negotiations would start, the Greek Cypriots showed as pretext the natural gas explorations and the process ended before starting”, he argued and claimed that “only academic discussions were held” during the negotiations. He alleged that Eroglu not wanting a solution, prevents pressure to be exerted on the Greek Cypriots and that if the negotiations were going well Turkey would not search for natural gas [in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone].
