59% of participants in a survey carried out in September by the Center for Migration, Identity and Rights Studies CMIRS in the occupied territories said that they wanted a settlement of the Cyprus problem, while 40,9% said that they did not want an agreement.
Mine Youtzel, director of the Center which has been conducting surveys consistently for years every 3 months, with a sample of 500 people, said that the Cyprus issue has recently emerged as the second most important issue for T/k, commenting that factors such as the long interruption of talks after Cran Montana, the interventions (of Ankara) and the change of leadership in the Turkish community in 2020 and the fruitless result of the UN efforts, have greatly affected the optimism of the Turkish Cypriots.
However, he said, the T/k maintains the same percentages as during the Annan plan in terms of his desire for a solution and agreement in the Cyprus issue. He pointed out that at this time and in view of the two leaders' dinner with the UN Secretary General, these views of the world are very important.
When asked if they want an agreement on the Cyprus issue, 40,12% stated that they definitely want an agreement, 18,94% that they very much want an agreement, 14,26% that they do not very much want an agreement and 26,68% that he definitely doesn't want a deal.
When asked how optimistic or pessimistic you are about a deal, 23,06% answered very optimistic, 13,88% somewhat optimistic, 13,27% somewhat optimistic, while 49,80% answered not at all optimistic.
When asked how they would vote if the negotiations between the two leaders resulted in a plan that would be submitted to a referendum, 31,17% said they would definitely vote no, 8,30% probably no, 24,29% probably yes, the 30,16% said they would definitely vote yes, while 6,07% said they were not sure.
Ergun Olgun
He does not consider it possible that there will be any results from the dinner in New York, former Turkish negotiator Ergun Olgun told "Cyprus", saying that "the equal rights and status of the Turkish side" have not been confirmed by the EU /k side and the international community did not respect this. The Turkish Cypriots, he continued, do not have equal opportunities with the Cypriots, they cannot come into contact with the international community and explain their problems.
Mr. Olgun disagreed with only referring to UN resolutions, arguing that they are not binding. "Bind Israel," he said. Mr. Olgun said resolutions can be "a measure, but not the only standard." He reiterated the positions of the t/k side for sovereign equality.
His personal assessment of tonight's informal dinner, Mr. Olgun said, is that it is not being held at the right time. "Firstly, the world's attention is diverted to another issue, secondly, while the I/C side seems to be a serious Western ally because of the current crisis, the Republic of Turkey seems to be on the opposite side because it is on the side of Palestine. In my opinion, these conditions are not suitable for this meeting to take place, and in my opinion nothing will come of this meeting," he said.
The dinner may, he said, have been agreed upon in advance, but it is unlikely that anything will come of it. Nor does he consider that there is suitable ground for an agreement, as he noted.
Source: KYPE
