The positions Turkey’s foreign minister as outlined in his interview with Phileleftheros on Sunday, explains why the Cyprus problem has not been solved to date, government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said.
In the interview, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara remained firm in its position to maintain the system of guarantees and of keeping Turkish troops in Cyprus following a solution.
According to a brief preview of the interview published online, Cavusoglu argues that the existing guarantee system provided “a strong framework to ensure the future stability of the island.” He further maintained that “the overwhelming majority of the Turkish Cypriots will not accept a settlement without Turkish guarantees”.
Cavusoglu also insisted that the EU four freedoms, free movement of people, capital, goods and services, should apply to Turkish nationals after a solution.
He said Turks and Greeks must be treated equally in order to maintain an outside balance between the two countries, both of whom are guarantor powers. The Greek Cypriot side argues that Greeks have the four freedoms because Greece is a member of the EU. In addition Cavusoglu claimed that the Greek Cypriots were not prepared to go the extra mile to reach a settlement.
Responding in comments to the Cyprus News Agency later on Sunday, Christodoulides said: “The positions he expresses in his interview explain exactly why, in spite of significant progress already achieved, the current process has not led, so far, to a final conclusion.”
“The interview and everything the Turkish foreign minister refers to further explain the awkwardness of the Turkish side towards the recent proposal by the President of the Republic, which is the only one which, if adopted, could create prospects for a positive outcome and avert a possible deadlock in the negotiations,” he added.
Christodoulides said the most recent proposal President Nicos Anastasiades had put forward at the negotiating table, to help make headway in the ongoing peace talks, could create prospects for a positive outcome and avert a possible deadlock.
The talks have stalled since the leaders last week failed to come to an agreement for a new Geneva conference. UN Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide tried some shuttle diplomacy to bring them together in a new meeting to figure out a workable formula but got nowhere. He is due to continue his shuttle diplomacy when he returns to Cyprus on Tuesday.
In the meantime, Anastasiades is due to hold a National Council meeting on Monday and to address the Cypriot people.
