Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu has said the Turkish Cypriot people do not deserve the uncertainty they are currently faced with, and that this should be ended as soon as possible.

Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu spoke before his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who was in the TRNC for a working visit.

Speaking to the press, Foreign Minister Ertuğruloğlu said that the developments on the Cyprus issue were part of the national cause, which is determined, conducted and defended jointly by Lefkoşa and Ankara.

Ertuğruloğlu continued as follows:

“The point we have reached in the negotiations is clear … whether the negotiations will continue or not. As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the TRNC, we are not a ministry that advocates the Turkish Cypriot side leaving the negotiation table, of course this would be extremely wrong. But we must not make an impression that the open ended negotiating process, which has continuing for 50 years, can be continued for another 50 years uncertainty.

“The dominant mentality of the Greek Cypriot side is very clear. They showed the same attitude once again with the recent Enosis decision.”

Emphasising that further steps were to be taken in this direction in the period ahead, Çavuşoğlu said “unfortunately at the point we have reached in the negotiations process for the future of Cyprus, we have started to see that the Greek Cypriot side does not share the same sincerity and constructive approach put forward by Turkey and the TRNC.”

“We wanted a lasting solution and supported the continuation of the negotiations with patience. Unfortunately, we do not see a similar approach on the other side. We gave clear messages today. If the Greek Cypriot side wants a solution then it should act sincerely and prove its desire for a solution” the Turkish Foreign Minister added.

Çavuşoğlu said that the TRNC government was aware of the expectations for the prospects of the Turkish Cypriot people, adding that it will always protect these prospects – including the issues of guarantees and security.