Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (06.06.14) reports that Turkish Cypriot politicians have assessed the Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay’s statement that they are ready to discuss a map on the property issue in return to a road map that leads to a referendum.
In statements to Kibris Postasi, Serdar Denktas, self-styled deputy prime minister of the breakaway regime and leader of the Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG), complained that they are not informed enough on the negotiating process aiming at reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem.
He argued: “First of all, I want to find out the latest situation regarding the past convergences’ papers. Recently, because of the elections and the constitutional amendments that are on the agenda, we could not get enough information regarding the Cyprus problem. However, if we are at the point of putting a geographical map onto the table, this means that there is a development. The president must call us and brief us. However, I do not believe that we have come to the stage of putting a geographical map onto the table”.
Furthermore, Ferdi Sabit Soyer, self-styled deputy with the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG), said that from the statements made, he understands that the Cyprus problem entered into deadlock again, because the Greek Cypriot side says that “the concessions which will give depend on the territory which you will give us” and the Turkish Cypriot side says that “the territory which we will give, depends on the concessions which you will give”. Arguing that from Ozersay’s statement it was clear that the Turkish side will put a map onto the table “if there is a ground that leads to a referendum”, Soyer expressed the view that “we have not entered into a give and take process yet”.
Finally, Zorlu Tore, self-styled deputy with the National Unity Party (UBP) said that the issues of territory and property are very important for the Greek Cypriot side, but “they constitute a great danger” for the Turkish Cypriots. He alleged, inter alia, the following: “…The formation of both a road map and a geographical map is out of the question. What will be formed with foreign interventions will soon enter into deadlock. There might be a speeding up of the negotiations process with the EU’s entering into action, but the EU’s stance does not coincide with the historical realities of Cyprus”.