STATEMENT BY THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ASSOC. PROF. TURGAY AVCI 

The Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou has a made a statement defying the United Nations’ 31 March 2004 dated  Comprehensive Settlement Plan-also known as the Annan Plan- which emerged as a result of years long negotiations between the two parties.  The Plan which was supported by the whole international community was rejected by the Greek Cypriot people in simultaneous and separate referenda held at the two sides due to the Greek Cypriot leadership’s call in this direction. The real reason of the non-settlement of the Cyprus problem is due to this intransigent stance of the Greek Cypriot Administration. We would like to remind that  the Turkish Cypriots made a sacrifice in accepting this Plan which was not very satisfying for them either in order to reach a settlement on the Island. It is known by all the parties that the Greek Cypriot side rejected this Plan after guaranteeing its EU membership. 

This statement by the Greek Cypriot leadership, which disregards the achievements that emerged within the framework of the negotiations, reflects the real intention of the Greek Cypriot side. The Greek Cypriot leadership, which does not consider the Turkish Cypriot side as their politically equal partners, is engaged in efforts to eliminate the parameters such as the political equality of the two peoples, the equal status of two Constituent States and bi-zonality. The third parties should take into account the fact that the Greek Cypriot leadership is considering the ongoing negotiations in Cyprus as an exercise of patching up the Turkish Cypriot people to the Greek Cypriot state. 

Kyprianou is continuing its accusations against the Turkish Armed Forces which is amongst the most powerful armies in the world.  The Turkish army is present on the island on the basis of International Agreements and  the consent of our state and our people. The guarantorship right of Motherland Turkey shall continue to exist also within the framework of a possible settlement in the future. This is a sine qua non for the Turkish Cypriot side. 

The people of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus strongly support the resumption of the fully- fledged negotiations from the point that it ceased in 2004 without further delay on the basis of the developments achieved during years long negotiations. It is amply clear that the Turkish Cypriot people will not give concessions over reaching a reconciliation on the basis of a new partnership and the UN parameters of political equality of the two peoples, the equal status of two Constituent States and bi-zonality.  

29 April 2008, Lefkoşa.