The Cyprus negotiations collapsed because the eck side did not accept political equality status for T/Cs, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, adding that a two-state solution was on the table. On Greek-Turkish relations, the Turkish minister said that the channels of dialogue with Greece are more open than in the past
In an interview with Criterion magazine, the Turkish foreign minister said on the Cyprus issue that "negotiations were held for years on the basis of federation, but these negotiations collapsed because the Greek side did not accept the political equality of the Turkish Cypriot side."
In an interview with Criterion magazine, the Turkish foreign minister said on the Cyprus issue that "negotiations were held for years on the basis of federation, but these negotiations collapsed because the Greek side did not accept the political equality of the Turkish Cypriot side.
He added that after this development, the two-state solution was put on the table. "The proposal concerns both the confirmation of the acquired rights of the TCs, namely their sovereign equality and their equal international status, and the establishment of cooperation between the Tdbc and the E/C administration. We as Turkey are making every effort to reaffirm the sovereign equality and the equal international status of the T/C side," he claimed.
He went on to say that they had given the message to all interlocutors that they should focus on the realities on the island. "We are saying that they must abandon the double standards imposed on the TCs. We believe that the proposal for a two-state solution, which is compatible with the realities on the island, will be considered more carefully by our interlocutors in the context of the changing circumstances," he said.
Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed the need for comprehensive cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean and argued that initiatives that exclude Turkey and Tskhinvali are doomed to fail.
He also argued that the unilateral steps taken have escalated tensions. "We will continue to resolutely protect the rights and interests of our country and tdvk. As the country with the longest coastline in the eastern Mediterranean, we are a key player in the region. Our priority, as always, is diplomacy, cooperation and coordination. Our President has proposed to the EU to hold a comprehensive conference on the Eastern Mediterranean in 2020. This proposal needs to be endorsed by other actors and now implemented. Moreover, the TCs submitted proposals for cooperation to the GCs on hydrocarbons in 2011, 2012 and 2019. We support these proposals as well," he said.
Dialogue channels with Greece more open today
On Greek-Turkish relations, the Turkish Foreign Minister said "we can say that dialogue channels with Greece are more open today than in the past," adding that they are working to promote a positive agenda in economic and trade relations. "The positive agenda focusing on cooperation in the economy started to show its positive results in bilateral trade in 2021 and 2020. Compared to 2020 there was a 70% increase in 2021 reaching $5.2 billion. We hope that with this positive agenda we will create an environment where we can honestly discuss our bilateral issues with Greece. We are doing our part in this direction. We expect Greece to demonstrate the same sincerity and political will in this process," he said.
Source: CNA
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