Turkish Cypriot political parties criticize Eroglu for his stance in the Cyprus talks
Under the title “The opposition attacked Eroglu”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (08.06.12), reports that the “assembly” of the breakaway regime discussed yesterday the developments in the Cyprus problem, after a proposal submitted by the Republican Turkish Party (CTP).
Addressing the meeting, the chairman of CTP Ozkan Yorgancioglu said that after the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu came on duty he left without any response to the demands submitted by the UN Secretary-General in all the summits on the Cyprus problem. He argued that the perception that the Turkish Cypriots were the side which wants a solution in Cyprus, has shifted into the perception that they do not want a solution. He noted that Eroglu does not brief the “assembly” without a demand to be submitted from the “body”.
Yorgancioglu criticized also Eroglu’s special representative, Kudret Ozersay noting that instead of dealing with the Cyprus problem, Ozersay exerts efforts to establish a new political movement and heavily accuses the “assembly”.
Referring to the chapters discussed in the Cyprus negotiations, Yorgancioglu criticized Eroglu’s stance on the issue of the cross-voting and accused Eroglu of delaying the process. Noting that the “minister of foreign affairs” of the regime was absent from the negotiating process, Yorgancioglu argued that the negative result at this stage derives from the fact that the “government” and the “assembly” were left outside this process.
Yorgancioglu noted that in case the negotiations do not continue, the Turkish Cypriot community will pay the price for this after 1 July, when Cyprus will take over the EU term presidency. He said that the Turkish Cypriots should strengthen their economy in spite of the non-solution, but it will be possible to hope for their future only by strengthening the vision for a solution.
Yorgancioglu argued that 1 July is not a milestone for the Turkish Cypriots or Turkey and criticized the efforts exerted towards the discussion of confidence building measures instead of holding negotiations aiming at finding a comprehensive solution. He argued that it is absolutely necessary for the “assembly” to overtake the negotiating process from now on. He then criticized the “government” for its stance on the issue of preventing the Turkish Cypriots from travelling with passports of the Republic of Cyprus.
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In his address, Mehmet Cakici, leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), asked the “government” whether it has a vision on the Cyprus problem and accused Eroglu of not briefing the parties for months on the Cyprus problem. He noted that instead of briefing the parties, Eroglu “goes around from the one festival to the other”, while his special representative is dealing with the establishment of a political formation and the negotiating team has been dissolved. “There is a need for a new negotiator and new motivation”, he argued noting that the negotiating team reached the conclusion that the Cyprus problem is over.
Moreover, the “MP” of the TDP, Huseyin Angolemli argued that there is an agreement regarding the return of the occupied closed city of Varosha to its owners before the solution to the Cyprus problem and therefore the Turkish occupation army and the “fighters” have no say and could not have any say in this area. He alleged that “there are new moves on the issue of Varosha” and that the issue will be settled prior to the solution, not as a part of it. He pointed out that the “assembly” has not discussed Varosha in spite of the fact that Eroglu had stated that he is ready to discuss this issue.
Angolemli wondered who gave the authority to Eroglu to announce that the negotiating process will be interrupted after 1 July and noted that Eroglu has no authority to interrupt the negotiations. He alleged that if the “assembly” wanted, it could change the negotiator of the Turkish side.
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Meanwhile, in his address, Serdar Denktas, leader of the Democratic Party (DP) argued that one more process came to its end, but no result. Denktas reiterated his view that holding a referendum and asking the people what they want, is a necessary condition. Replying to those who argued that the world would get angry with the Turkish Cypriots if they abandoned the negotiations, Denktas alleged that those who should actually get angry are the Turkish Cypriots who are forced to live “isolated”. He noted that an imposed solution could not be viable and alleged that, in order for the uncertainty of the Turkish Cypriots to end, they should leave the negotiating table.
Turgay Avci, leader of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP), argued that they follow a reactive policy on the Cyprus problem not a proactive one and added that they have not yet determined their stance regarding the behaviour they will follow after 1 July. Avci expressed his concern because he said he does not know with whom Eroglu’s special representative meets in Turkey and in Europe and what he discusses.
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Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (08.06.12) reports that replying to the criticism, Irsen Kucuk, self-styled prime minister and chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP), said they do not agree that without the “cross voting”, there will be no progress in the solution of the Cyprus problem. He said that he was against the “cross-voting” from the very beginning and criticized the efforts to present the “cross-voting” as the “heart” of the Cyprus problem. He noted that UBP does not accept the interruption of the negotiations and added that the talks should continue even if not at the level of the leaders. He argued that we should refer to a “different ground’ for the talks and that if one member of Eroglu’s negotiating team leaves, this does not mean that the entire team is abolished.