The close associate of former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Acckidzi and "mayor" of occupied Nicosia announced in an interview with the Cyprus News Agency, the creation of a platform that will put on the table the rights granted to the Turkish Cypriot community under the founding agreements of 1959-1960, while focusing on the agreements reached in the negotiations that lasted until 2017.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Mr. Harmanji argues that the founding agreements guarantee the political equality of the Turkish Cypriot community and are important in the sense that they are the only agreement the two communities have reached so far. According to Harmanji, who is close to the solution forces in the Turkish Cypriot community and the former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, the new platform focusing on the vision of transition to a united Cyprus, with the contribution of lawyers, politicians and representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community, will attempt to build on the political equality of Turkish Cypriots derived from the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus.
Harmanji shared with CNA his vision for the resolution of the Cyprus problem, stressing that "I am trying to express that the political equality resulting from the Republic of Cyprus should be the political ground (of the solution). I believe that Turkish Cypriots have achieved significant gains under the 1959-1960 agreements. I believe that the solution can be built on this ground, taking into account the convergences achieved in the talks held until 2017."
The Turkish Cypriot politician further stated that, "I intend to broaden the ground for the idea of using the political equality arising from the Republic of Cyprus and create a platform for thinking in which lawyers, economists and politicians will participate. We need to develop this debate more collectively. The reason why I put forward this idea is that I believe that the idea of federation is not going to gain ground otherwise."
Or the inclusion of Turkish Cypriots in a united Cyprus
"I believe that the political equality of Turkish Cypriots was secured by the 1960 Constitution. In recent talks, the idea of a rotating presidency also came up. I think this is an alternative path (to the solution)," he also says.
"I believe that the political equality of Turkish Cypriots can be enhanced by the ideas that will be formed on this platform."
"I believe that the political equality of Turkish Cypriots can be enhanced by the ideas that will be formed on this platform. On the other hand, I bring the view that balances have been achieved in the Senate and the House of Representatives (during the 1960s) on behalf of the two communities. Of course, the problems associated with the operational part of this issue should be discussed. However, this does not change the fact that the agreement reached in 1960 is the only agreement the two communities have ever reached," he said."
Regarding the new platform, Harmanji also added that "the process will be shaped by the input of our lawyers and friends. In any case, I believe that this idea can play a decisive role on the road to a solution. On the other hand, there are changing circumstances since 1963 and 1974. Moreover, (we should not forget that) after 1974 a status quo emerged in both communities. We have to take this into account."
Finally, Mr. Harmanji told Cypriots that "this is a new process consisting of several parts. First, we have to reach an agreement between us," he said, referring to the Turkish Cypriot side. "If a collective initiative (decision) emerges, then it can become clear what rights we can claim" on the basis of the founding agreements and the agreements reached by 2017, he concluded.
Source: CNA
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
