No: 174, 12 June 2015

The statements of the Greek Cypriot Administration leader Nicos Anastasiades, which appeared in Turkish media on 12 June 2015, that tried to link the negotiation process for a comprehensive settlement on the Island with the efforts to form a government in Turkey, are astonishing.

The GCA leader should first and foremost utilise the available opportunity for the settlement and focus his efforts on concluding the negotiations carried out within the framework of the Good Offices Mission of the UN Secretary General together with the President of TRNC Mr. Mustafa Akıncı.

We consider it a deliberate tactical ploy to question Turkey’s commitment to the goal of a fair, lasting and viable solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the political equality of the two sides and the new partnership to be formed by the two equal Constituent States, the general framework of which was set forth in the Joint Statement agreed on 11 February 2014 by the two leaders in Cyprus. Turkey has a long State tradition; it has always scrupulously fulfilled the requirements of its international commitments and will continue to do so.

In this context, Turkey wishes that a comprehensive and viable settlement is reached in Cyprus as soon as possible and the island of Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean becomes an area of peace, stability and cooperation. Turkey maintains its support to the efforts exerted in this direction as it has always been the case.