Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay has said that he did not believe there was any change in the views of the political parties at Tuesday’s special session of parliament in terms of what the basis of a settlement should be and how a partnership state should be.
Evaluating Tuesday’s extraordinary session via a post on social media, Foreign Minister Özersay said he would not disclose what was discussed during the meeting as it was a closed session.
He added, however, that it was important not to give room to any misunderstandings following statements that there was a strong consensus in parliament in regard to the Cyprus Problem.
The Speaker of the TRNC Assembly Teberrüken Uluçay, said that there was a general and strong consensus in parliament on the Cyprus Problem.
Speaking after Tuesday’s extraordinary session of parliament during which President Akıncı briefed members of parliament on the latest developments on the Cyprus Problem, Uluçay said that the meeting had been useful.
“It is my belief that the views put forward by parliament will in time become useful for our country in the best possible way” he said.
He said that the leaders of the political parties had shared with the President their recommendations and views regarding which steps could be taken on the Cyprus Problem and what kind of a roadmap could be followed.
“The President in the most open and sincere manner shared with members of parliament the Turkish Cypriot side’s current position, what could happen in the near future and what kind of a roadmap could emerge in the coming days”, he added.
Responding to a question, the Parliamentary Speaker said that a strong consensus existed in parliament on the Cyprus Issue.
“The consensus can be observed in all political parties and almost all MPs. The consensus includes the issue of political equality which is indispensable for the Turkish Cypriot side, the need for any new process to be subject to timetables and for any new talks to be result oriented. Parliament will not accept a new open-ended process”, he added.
In response, Özersay said on social media, that the majority of the 50 MPs in parliament as well as four political parties with seats in the Republic’s Assembly believed that the Greek Cypriot side was not ready to share power or wealth with the Turkish Cypriot side, had not come to terms with the notion of political equality with the Turkish Cypriot side and therefore did not believe a federal partnership to be a realistic option.
He said that while two of the parties and a group of MPs in parliament defended the idea that a federal settlement was the only realistic option and that negotiations should continue on this basis, the other two parties argued the opposite.
Foreign Minister Özersay also said that there was a general consensus in parliament that the Greek Cypriot leader was trying to maintain the status quo by playing for time.
“This can be understood and seen from the statements made by all six parties with seats in parliament”, he added.
BRT