We will not waste another 50 years discussing the bi-zonal, bi-communal model of a Cyprus federation, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Tsaovousoglu. He said the UN Secretary-General was expected to convene an informal five-party summit with the UN. He also said that if Greece is ready for exploratory talks, they are also ready, while he argued that Greece's objections to Oruts Reyes' investigations have no value. The Turkish Minister said that any negative decision taken at the EU Summit will harm the EU.
In an interview with the extremist Islamic newspaper Yeni Akit, Mr. Tsavousoglou said that "our activities in the eastern Mediterranean continue. Our research ships Oruts Reyes and Barbaros continue their research activities on our continental shelf. Greece reacts to the activities of Oruts Reyes by presenting maximalist arguments. However, these objections have no value ". He further stated that "despite their uncompromising attitude, we emphasize at every opportunity that we are open to dialogue. Our intention is to start exploratory talks. If Greece is ready, we are ready too ".
He said an EU Summit for the eastern Mediterranean would be held in the coming weeks. "The sensible members of the EU know that a negative decision at this Summit will hurt the EU. I hope that common sense will prevail at the Summit. "We will be opposed to any decision taken by the EU, ignoring the legal rights and interests of our country and the Turkish Cypriots," he said.
Regarding the Cyprus issue, the Turkish Minister said that, "our priority is its fair, permanent and viable solution to ensure the legal rights and security of the Turkish people". In this direction, "we have so far shown honesty and good intentions. However, there is a problematic mentality on the island that does not see the Turkish Cypriot community as equal and even ignores it. The goal of this mentality is not sharing, it is supremacy. "The failure of the negotiations that lasted more than 50 years is a product of this mentality," he said.
He added that "the bi-zonal, bi-communal federal model, which has been discussed for decades, has not resolved the Cyprus issue. It is obvious that he will not solve it in the future either. Neither we nor the Turkish Cypriots have another 50 years to lose in negotiating a model that does not bring a solution. In the next period, we expect the UN Secretary General Guterres to contact the relevant parties for the informal meeting of the five plus the UN. We believe that this meeting should ensure that the parties have a clear vision of the solution. Everyone has to face reality and in the context of the solution evaluate without prejudice what is possible and what is not. "With this in mind, we will continue to support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General," he said.
Regarding Varosia, Mevlüt Çavuşoλουlu said "we believe that a new era will begin in Varosya that will benefit everyone as a result of the work that will be carried out with respect for property rights." After the opening of the strip for visits to the coast, “we saw in the streets of Varosia that both the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots wander the streets of Varosia with longing and enthusiasm. We notice that the Greek Cypriot administration, in a panic, continues its defamation campaign and tries to keep the people away from the process. "Our President's visit to the besieged city of Varos is essentially the most tangible example of our strong support," he said.
Source: KYPE