Cavusoglu: We are seeing a constructive approach by the Greek Cypriot side in the Cyprus negotiations
Under the title “Last chance for a solution”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.11.15) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that they are seeing a constructive stance by the Greek Cypriot side in the Cyprus negotiations in a manner they have never seen before in the past. Responding to a question yesterday during a press conference with Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, Cavusoglu expressed their satisfaction with this constructive approach and added:
“We are especially seeing the support of the Greek Cypriot side’s leader, my personal friend Anastasiades and AKEL’s leader my friend Kyprianou. I will invite him [Kyprianou] to Turkey. However, we need to end this issue now. The steps, the approaches exhibited until today are optimistic, but we need to take a result”.
Cavusoglu recalled that Akinci and President Anastasiades met six times in November and pointed out that they have achieved progress. “We want to end the negotiating process in Cyprus within the forthcoming period at a point which both sides will accept, both sides will approve easily in a referendum”, he argued adding that they want to put a certain timetable to the procedure, to reach a lasting and just solution accepted by both sides and to hold a referendum the soonest. “Because this is the last chance, we do not want to waste this chance”, he claimed.
Cavusoglu said that during his contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus they discussed their “bilateral relations” and Akinci briefed him on the latest developments in the Cyprus talks. He alleged that the Turkish government and the AKP have always been supporting and will continue to support a lasting solution in Cyprus.
Replying to a question on the issue of the guarantees, Cavusoglu alleged that the reason for which the war, bloodshed and tears seen in the countries of the region do not exist in Cyprus is Turkey’s guarantees. He argued that raising these issues now is unnecessary and aims at watering down the process. Cavusolgu called on Greece to contribute to the process in Cyprus at least half as positively and actively as Turkey is allegedly contributing.
Asked about his country’s relations with Russia after Turkey brought down a Russian warplane in Syria, Cavusoglu argued that they do not want to escalate tension with Russia and that they have a “special economic and political relation”. Noting that they are cooperating with Russia in many fields, he recalled that Turkey has not put sanctions on Russia due to Crimea, like the EU and the West did.