World Bulletin / News Desk


Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Thursday harshly criticized the recent words of Greek Cypriot leader on the assimilation of Turkish population "step by step".

Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias said that "after the Cyprus solution, we will assimilate Turkish population step by step."

When asked on the statement of Greek leader, Davutoglu said "that it is not possible to consider this remark as well-intentioned for peacefull efforts."

"The statement of Dimitris Christofias is not constructive. If he sees Turkish side, which is equal side of the negotiations, as a population that should be assimilated, it shows that peace process diverges from the concept and the first principle in the beginning," said Davutoglu.

"International promotion"

Davutoglu said, at a time when promises made by the international community, UN and EU to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have not been fulfilled, placing pressure on Turkey can not be judged as an act based on good will.

Davutoglu and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Huseyin Ozgurgun held a joint press conference following their tete-a-tete meeting in Ankara on Thursday.

We discussed with Ozgurgun on the need to continue the traditional cooperation between Turkey and the TRNC and to show common stance, Davutoglu said.

It is a priority for Turkey to see the international promotion of the TRNC by opening offices in all corners of the world and by being represented in international organizations, Davutoglu said.

Ozgurgun's visit to Turkey is the first official trip he has made since assuming the position of the TRNC foreign minister and he will proceed to Damascus to attend the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), Davutoglu said.

"The upcoming term is highly important for the TRNC. The TRNC has completed elections successfully and showed to the whole world that it is a democratic country. The welfare, well-being and security of the Turkish Cypriots is a priority for us," Davutoglu said.

"Turkish position on the Cyprus negotiations is clear. We wish for a just, permanent and comprehensive peace in Cyprus. This peace will bring welfare and security to the island and Eastern Mediterranean. In order to reach such a peace, a new understanding of partnership has to be based on a bi-zonal structure formed by two founding states," Davutoglu said.

"Turkish Cypriots as an equal party"

The Turkish Cypriot foreign minister said that he was not sure whether Greek Cypriots saw Turkish Cypriots as an equal party.

Huseyin Ozgurgun said that he was not yet sure whether the Greek Cypriots regarded Turkish Cypriots as an equal party and were willing to reach an agreement in the island.

"We have seen in our talks and joint platforms that the Greek Cypriot administration cannot give up 'the Republic of Cyprus', which is unacceptable," Ozgurgun said.

Ozgurgun said that Turkish Cypriots were an equal partner in the island, and expressed his wish that TRNC president and Greek Cypriot leader would go on their negotiations as two equal and founder partners and come to a result that way.

"The government is supporting (TRNC President Mehmet Ali) Talat and the negotiation process, carried out together with motherland Turkey," Ozgurgun also said.

The Turkish Cypriot minister said that he was pleased to see that Turkish Cypriot and Turkish people were thinking the same about the Cyprus negotiation process.

Ozgurgun enumerated bi-zonal structure, political equality of two nations, equal status of two founder states, and de facto and effective guarantee of Turkey as TRNC's sine qua non conditions which could not be a matter of discussion.

The Turkish Cypriot minister said territory and property issues could only be solved through negotiations.

Ozgurgun also said that the Greek Cypriot administration could reach nowhere by putting Cyprus problem as an obstacle before Turkey on its road to European Union (EU) membership.

"Turkish Armed Forces is ensuring peace in Cyprus, but what is lacking is an agreement which can be made by Turkish and Greek Cypriots on the table," he said.

Ozgurgun said that Turkey was supporting the negotiation process and efforts to find a comprehensive solution to Cyprus problem, and reiterated that Turkey's EU membership bid should not be associated with Cyprus problem.

TRNC Foreign Minister Ozgurgun will meet Turkish State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek, and be received by Turkish President Abdullah Gul later on Thursday.