Turkish and Turkish Cypriot press writes about the reactions of Turkey on the launching of Cyprus negotiations.
Ankara Anatolia news agency (11.02.14) reported that Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that a brand new process is set to begin in Cyprus and expressed hope that it will succeed in solving the longstanding problem that divides the island. Erdogan was speaking at the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) weekly parliamentary group meeting. “I hope neither side will step back from the talks and that the Cyprus conflict will finally be solved,” Erdogan said, adding that the new direction signaled by the resumption of the talks is a promising one.
In addition, Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (12.02.14) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said that there is a highly positive atmosphere on the Cyprus problem, adding that it had been discussed comprehensively during the recent EU-Turkey Political Dialogue meeting in Brussels.
Davutoğlu said that there had been a few deadlocks while discussing the joint statement, “but thanks to the productive efforts and good intentions of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots, the problems are now overcome”, he claimed.
He said that Turkey wants to see an accelerated negotiations process within a certain time frame, and added that the efforts of the UN, the EU, Greece, Turkey, Great Britain and the US played a role in overcoming the deadlock in Cyprus.
In addition, Today’s Zaman, also reports that the Turkish Foreign Ministry has welcomed the start of the negotiations “as a chance to find a comprehensive solution under the UN auspices”. The Turkish Ministry made a statement on Tuesday saying that Turkey supports a just, lasting and viable solution based on a new partnership consisting of two politically equal states in Cyprus.
“Turkey will continue its determined and productive support to the efforts of the UN Secretary-General in creating a new partnership on the island by the will of both communities, based on reconciliation and equal status. Turkey hopes that with a just and lasting solution, the island of Cyprus and the East Mediterranean will turn into a peaceful, stable and cooperative region,” said the statement.
The ministry’s statement also praised the efforts made by Eroğlu and his leadership, as well as the productive attitude of the Turkish Cypriot parties in order to start the negotiations. ‘Turkey, as it has done in the past, will cooperate closely and provide support to the KKTC with all its institutions for the success of the process, and it will continue to be one step ahead in meeting its obligations,’ said the statement”, according to the paper.
Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (12.02.14) reports that Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli, speaking at his party’s parliamentary meeting, stated that the energy calculations between Israel, USA and the Republic of Cyprus are creating a route against the national interests of the Turkish Cypriots. He went on and added that efforts to make Turkish Cypriots secondary class citizens and to take revenge for 1974, will not be accepted “We will not accept any plan that will not safeguard the benefits and the sovereignty rights of the Turkish Cypriots”, he stated.
