FOREIGN MINISTER OZGURGUN: “JULY 1ST MAY BE A MILESTONE... IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO REACH A SETTLEMENT AFTER THAT”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Huseyin Ozgurgun said that there is no disagreement on the Cyprus issue between the TRNC and Turkey. Saying ‘1st July may be a milestone’, Ozgurgun stated that it was not possible to reach a settlement after this date.

Speaking on a television program, Ozgurgun stated that the issue of cross-voting was brought up to the agenda as a delaying tactic, like the oil issue, which was put by the Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias as a distraction tactic.

Ozgurgun said: “If we look at the essence of the Cyprus issue, we should discuss presence of the cross voting or presence of the governance dimension of cross-voting.”

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side spent efforts to end the negotiations process successfully before 1st July and took many initiatives; Ozgurgun added that 1st July should be a date that the Greek Cypriot side has to put an end to its tricks.

Stating the policies of the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots on the Cyprus issue which have been conducted in consultation with their motherlands since 1950s, Ozgurgun expressed the views of Turkey and Greece to the Cyprus issue.

Ozgurgun added that there isn’t any single difference of views on the Cyprus issue between Turkey and the TRNC.

Evaluating the unilateral oil and natural gas exploration efforts of the Greek Cypriot side, Ozgurgun highlighted that Christofias put this issue to the agenda after the internal and economic problems and naval base explosion in July 2011.

Ozgurgun added that Christofias’ policy was successful however it was not an issue to be brought forward. Ozgurgun said: “The issue of oil and natural gas didn’t attract major companies, while only the small companies were interested and this indicated that is a political game.”

OZERSAY: ‘NEGOTIATIONS WILL NOT BE AN INSTRUMENT FOR STATUS QUO’

Special Representative of the President Kudret Ozersay said that they will not let the negotiations to be an instrument for the status quo because ‘Status quo is to the advantage of Greek Cypriot side’.

Ozersay who has been making contacts in Washington is going to New York. Evaluating his contacts to BRT, Ozersay said that priority of the Turkish Cypriot side is the success of the negotiation process. ‘In case of failure of negotiations, it is not necessary to continue just because it is to the advantage of Greek Cypriot side. We will take the necessary steps together with Turkey’ Ozersay added.

‘We have been discussing with the other actors how to end the negotiations successfully. We should lead the other actors. World has many other important issues that to be dealt. We should produce ideas and make contacts in the presence of international actors. Washington visit is in this context’ Ozersay said.

Moreover, adding that the current process has a limited period as the other processes, Ozersay said ‘this process should not be open ended. Our priority is not failure of the negotiation process but its success. We should create a good future for our people. The main aim of our initiatives is towards this direction’.

ERTUĞ “UN SHOULD REMAIN FAITHFUL TO ITS STATEMENTS”

Spokesperson of TRNC Presidency Osman Ertuğ stated that United Nations should remain faithful to its statements’ and added that the report to be prepared at the end of March should not be suspended to April.

The spokesperson stated that the progress expected by UN Secretary General for a multilateral meeting can be provided till the end of March in case political will is ready.

Evaluating the last report of UN Secretary General, ErtuÄŸ pointed out that the words annoying the Greek Cypriot side has not been included in the report in order to protect the balance, and elastic expressions were used in some subjects.

The spokesperson Ertuğ also criticized that the expression of “end game” has not been included in the report and added that in order not to annoy the Greek Cypriot side, the concept of “indirect talks” has not been used. Osman Ertuğ emphasized that the perception of Turkish Cypriot side concerning the whole report is positive for the reason that it is “pointing out 1st July”.

DOWNER “NEGOTIATIONS COULD GO BETTER”

Leader of the Greek Cypriot administration and UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor to Cyprus Alexander Downer have met yesterday.

According to news of Greek Cypriot radio, Downer made a statement following the meeting and used the expression “the negotiations could go better”.

Downer also stated that the report to be submitted to the UN Secretary General at the end of March will not be long. In the news, it was stated that Downer is going to meet TRNC President DerviÅŸ EroÄŸlu today.

It was also stated that before the preparation of the report to be submitted to Ban ki Moon, Downer will meet the authorities of European Commission and the foreign affairs ministers of 3 guarantor countries UK, Greece and Turkey.

TALAT: “ATMOSPHERE IN THE CYPRUS ISSUE CHANGING AGAINST US”

2nd President Mehmet Ali Talat stated that atmosphere in the Cyprus Issue is changing against us and we need to push Greek Cypriot Side for a solution in the international arena. Talat underlined that the only solution which is accepted is Federation and demand of the Turkish Side to reach a solution until 1st July 2012, date of starting of the EU term presidency of the South Cyprus is a rightful action. Talat also pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side does not have the same point of view with the Turkish Cypriot side and the UN in the Cyprus Issue however we have to awaken the International Community in order to prevent the deadlock in the process he said.

PROJECT OF THE CENTURY

TRNC Minister of Agriculture and National Resources Ali Çetin Amcaoğlu stated that the first stage in the water Project to transport water to TRNC from Turkey is starting with the construction of the Gecitköy dam. A conference held in Near East University in the frame of Water Week where Amcaoğlu gave a speech and said that the process for the water transport started in the Alaköprü dam in Turkey and the construction of the Gecitköy dam will start on 30th March.