Nicosia condemns “unacceptable and provocative” Erdogan statements

“Unacceptable and provocative” is characterized by the statements made by the Turkish President yesterday (18.03.2024). Speaking of “condemned, unacceptable and provocative statements”, the government spokesman, Constantine Letybiotis, stressed that “for 50 years Cyprus, a full member of the EU, has been under illegal occupation since the brutal invasion of ’74”. “The unacceptableness of the so-called and the timing chosen by President Erdogan demonstrates the lack of respect for international law, the European acquis, towards the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, but also to the Secretary-General himself, whose personal envoy was in our country just 24 hours ago, with the task of creating conditions for reopening the talks within the agreed framework,” Mr Letymbiotis stressed. While pointing out that the Turkish president chooses to send a message of division in practice by violating and ignoring UN Security Council resolutions. “The unacceptable Erdogan statements prove once again the obvious: There are no anachronistic guarantees in a modern, European state. No State is meant to be a source of appetites and expansionist dispositions of foreign states. This requires international law. This is what justice and reason demand,” he commented. “As a Republic of Cyprus,” he added, “we will continue to put all our forces into the effort to resume negotiations from the point that they have been stopped with a view to the definitive resolution of the Cyprus problem, on the basis of the Bizonal Bicommunal Federation with political equality, fully aligned and consistent with UN SA resolutions. This is our historical responsibility and this is our highest national priority,” he noted. “We will not allow disorientation” Asked if after the Turkish President’s statements he believes that there is room for success in Mrs Olgin’s effort, the representative said that the effort of the UN’s personal envoy opens “for us a new period in our efforts to resume negotiations”. Her appointment, she said, demonstrates the SG’s commitment to trying to resume negotiations. “We will not allow anyone to disorient us from this mission, solving the Cyprus problem, within the agreed framework”. The Cyprus issue will not be solved by public statements,” he commented, noting that we will not accept such statements from Turkey. “What we want and the call that we once again address,” he continued, “is that there is a sincere intention and willingness to return to the negotiations within the agreed framework, from the point where they have been interrupted, in order to achieve a sustainable, definitive solution that will benefit the whole of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, but also for the whole region.” Meanwhile, according to information from the CNA, the UN’s personal envoy is to visit Brussels and Berlin, as Germany is considered a country with good relations with Turkey.