Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Ozdil Nami has said that the Greek Cypriots would return to the negotiating table.
In an interview on Bayrak Television (BRT) the minister said that “the Greek Cypriot leader delivered a blow to the process; however, the Greek Cypriots will certainly return to the negotiation table”, ‘Kibris Postasi’ reports.
Nami also said: “They will certainly return to the negotiating table, since the excuse they provided has not been accepted by anybody as valid. They did not find the support they expected. Their entire tactic here was to create a crisis and get support from some countries that they considered to be close to them, in order to score diplomatic points. Since they have realised that this will not happen, they have driven themselves into a corner. Therefore, they will make a manoeuvre for their return to the negotiating table and this process will continue“.
Pointing out that the UN needs to demonstrate a strong will in order to encourage the Greek Cypriots to return to the negotiating table. Nami stated that the Turkish Cypriot President’s letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is very important and said: “Hopefully, the Secretary-General will make strong moves to influence the Greek Cypriot side, after receiving this letter”.
Regarding the naval exercise which is planned to take place in the Eastern Mediterranean, Nami said: “I hope that the Greek Cypriot side will not carry out the planned exercise, if it carries out the exercise then certainly the tension will be increased since, for a long time, several exercises were being suspended mutually. I hope that they will reconsider the execution of the exercise which is actually a unilateral violation”.
Declaring that both communities in the island have rights to the natural gas discoveries, Nami stated that the Turkish Cypriot side will continue to protect their rights. “Our aim is to reach to a comprehensive solution and then to utilise the natural gas, however; the Greek Cypriot side continues its insistent stance by taking unilateral steps”, Nami said.
Adding that the Cyprus problem cannot be solved only with the will of the Turkish Cypriot side, Nami said that they are expecting everyone to make all necessary efforts.
Regarding the opening of a TRNC representative office in Hungary, Nami said: “We undertook our first steps for the opening of a representation, in order to contribute to the speedy development of our bilateral ties on the fields of economy and culture”.
Nami added that the Hungarian officials are interested in citrus fruits, food products and the universities.
