Noting that he would be at the post of the negotiator until the day on which the so-called high election board determined the timetable for the “elections”, Ozersay added that the first person with whom he has shared his decision was the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu, who told him that he would evaluate this decision.
Ozersay recalled that in past “presidential elections”, a self-styled prime minister and a “deputy prime minister” had both been candidates and remained at their posts until the “election” procedure.
Pointing out that the negotiations are now entering an important phase, Ozersay said that he would continue exercising his duty unless Eroglu decided differently. He recalled that he has been actively participating in the Cyprus talks for 12 years and at the highest level because he believes in the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem.
Referring to Eroglu’s possible candidature, Ozersay said that he did not know Eroglu’s intentions adding that the Turkish Cypriot leader had already announced that he would share his views with the public in a month’s time.
He noted that he decided to run in the “elections” because he thought that courage should be shown and a real will for doing some things in the “country”. Underlining that he would be an independent candidate, Ozersay said that because of his current position [as Turkish Cypriot negotiator], he was not able to announce his “vision” or to commit to specific things he would do, adding “but the time to do this will come”.
