Mustafa Akinci met separately on Friday with the French Ambassador to Cyprus Rene Troccaz and the Chairman of the Association for Social Reform (OPEK) which operates in South Cyprus.
The President’s press office stated that the concerns of the Turkish Cypriot side, particularly on the issue of political equality were discussed during the meetings.
Meanwhile, President Akinci also issued a statement in response to criticism made against him regarding the absence of the TRNC and the Turkish flags during some of his meetings.
In a written statement yesterday, Akinci said that the habit of conducting cheap politics using the flag still continued.
He pointed out that the Turkish and TRNC flags were also not displayed during visits paid to him by the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar nor the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy, Jane Holl Lute.
“This is not a new situation. This has been the practice even before my term in office. We have our flags flying on mast in front of the Presidency building which greets all those who come to visit this office. Then there are the removable flags we have indoors. They are removed or placed according to the character or nature of the meeting. As an ongoing practice dating before my term, we do not impose symbols during visits of foreign dignitaries. We prefer to convey our views to those who come and visit us”, Akinci said.
He further pointed out that the “presidency is the only place that foreign statesmen or representatives could visit despite the obstacles by the Greek Cypriots”. Akinci added also that “in order to offer the same treatment to the representatives of the few Greek Cypriot organisations that showed the courage to visit the TRNC presidency despite the pressures not to do so, it was the right thing to do”.
“Even if this was not done on their request”, said Akinci, implying that those who chose to use this issue as an excuse to attack him and his administration, were doing so intentionally. “This is why I chose to issue a public statement on the matter”, he added.
BRT
