TURKISH Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday called on Greek Cypriots not to delay the peace process or reject another peace plan after missing a “historic opportunity” in 2004.
Speaking from the north, where he was on a visit two days before the resumption of direct talks, Davutoglu warned the Cyprus Republic not to dabble with EU mechanisms in an effort to turn the screw on Turkey.
The Turkish diplomat came to the island with four messages. First, he expressed Turkey’s continued support to the Turkish Cypriots and the breakaway regime in the north. Second, he called on the Greek Cypriots to work for a comprehensive peace as early as possible. “We have to achieve this peace,” he said.
“You (Greek Cypriots) rejected a peace plan in 2004 and missed a historic opportunity. Please, this time, you should not miss this opportunity of a comprehensive peace…You should not delay the process of peace, and work with us to achieve peace as early as possible, before the end of this year, or if later, in a very reasonable time,” he said.
Davutoglu issued a warning to Greek Cypriots not to use EU institutions to influence the negotiations, an obvious reference to Turkey’s pending December evaluation by the EU. “And you should not think EU mechanisms could be instruments in these negotiations against Turkey or Turkish Cypriots,” he added.
The minister also called on the EU to be balanced in its approach to the two sides in the talks. His final message went to the UN, where he asked that the international organisation intensify efforts for a solution.
During a joint press conference with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Davutoglu reiterated Turkey’s support for the security guarantees over Cyprus to remain as they are. Asked by a reporter to comment on the return of the occupied ‘ghost town’ of Varosha, Talat interjected to clarify that the town was currently under the control of the “security forces” of the breakaway regime in the north, not Turkey.
Speaking to Turkish media earlier in the day, Davutoglu argued that the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots was a “crime against humanity”.
Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou yesterday referred to the “illegal presence” of the Turkish Foreign Minister on the island, noting that Turkey had to meet its obligations to the EU and member states if it didn’t want to face more obstacles on its accession path.
During his visit, Davutoglu also met with Turkish Cypriot ‘foreign minister’ Huseyin Ozgurgun and ‘prime minister’ Dervis Eroglu. He told reporters that he would meet with the Turkish Cypriot leadership to take stock of the negotiations so far and plan ahead for the next phase. He clarified that Turkey supported the negotiations, adding that he hoped the second round of talks to start on Thursday help find the basis for a durable and comprehensive peace.
According to the regime’s press office, the second round of talks will begin with discussions on the issues of governance and power sharing “where major disagreements still exist between the two sides”.
The two leaders are expected to take up the issue of a rotational presidency, with Christofias proposing the country be governed by a President and Vice President on a rotational basis, while Talat reportedly supports the adoption of a Presidency on the basis of the Swiss model.
