Atalay alleges that Turkey is ready for a solution in Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (30.05.14) reports that the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cypriot Affairs, Besir Atalay has alleged that Turkey is ready to solve the Cyprus problem and has exhibited the necessary will.
In statements to Havadis, Atalay said that in parallel to what he described as “Turkey’s contribution in the recently began process”, the European Union and the United States of America could positively contribute in the process. Within this framework, he added that they evaluate as positive the recent visit of the US Vice President to the island. “He did not put forward very concrete things, but in the end it [the visit] could be evaluated as a contribution in the negotiating process”, he noted.
Asked whether he is hopeful that a solution could be found to the Cyprus problem within this year, Atalay argued that when one looks at the negotiating process, it is not possible to make an evaluation easily and in the short term. This, he alleged, derives from the stance of the Greek Cypriot side.
Atalay alleged that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side have always played a “constructive role” in favor of the solution and exerted efforts in this direction, but the same is allegedly not valid for the Greek Cypriot side.
He said that the current process gives a little bit more hope, because of the more constructive role of the international community and the greater will it shows.Atalay argued that an agreement which will be protecting the rights of the Turkish Cypriots and overseeing their equality is a condition for the solution.
Replying to questions regarding the natural gas, Atalay said that Turkey has undertaken an “important role” on the issue of the energy passages from the East to the West and Europe and accumulated “important experiences”. He alleged that Turkey is the only way for the natural gas to reach Europe from the point of view of efficiency and rationality. He, inter alia, said the following on this issue: “…We believe that the entire island should use all the possibilities, the wealth that exists around this island. For both sides of the island. There is no other way than Turkey for the use of the wealth which could be developed there, for carrying it to Europe. The current developments in Ukraine showed that the most important basin and center on the issue of distributing this wealth is Turkey (…) Turkey has a serious accumulation of knowledge on this point. If there is going to be a development here in Cyprus’ basin, in the Mediterranean, Turkey will always undertake this role (…)”
