Minister of Foreign Affairs Özdil Nami met yesterday with the Rt. Hon. David Lidington, Minister of State for Europe of the United Kingdom.
During the meeting which lasted nearly an hour, Minister Nami described the current stage of the negotiation process, along with the various challenges of the process and reasons behind its stagnation.
Foreign Minister Nami expressed it is incomprehensible that the Greek Cypriot side does not respect the previously reached convergences and disregards them. Minister Nami also explained that such approaches of the Greek Cypriot side are obstructing the process.
By underlining the significance of the time factor in the context of the resolution of the Cyprus problem, Nami expressed that the Greek Cypriot side’s tendency to play for time is not contributing to a solution, but is rather having a detrimental impact on the two communities’ beliefs and hopes of reaching a settlement.
Minister Nami reaffirmed the Turkish Cypriot side’s commitment to a solution, as was the case in 2004, while acknowledging the fact that the Greek Cypriot side’s stance vis-a-vis the current process is disappointing. Nami said the effective and constructive contribution of the United Kingdom to the current process as a guarantor country would have a positive effect on its outcome.
Following his meeting with Lidington, Foreign Minister Nami met with Mr. Gareth Thomas, the Labour Party Shadow Minister for Europe. During this meeting, Minister Nami explained, once again, the reasons behind the current stalemate in the negotiations. Nami underlined the importance of the support extended by the Labour Party during the membership process of the Republican Turkish Party, the larger coalition partner of the TRNC government of which Minister Nami is also a member, to the Party of European Socialists and Socialist International. Minister Nami also emphasized the significance of the continued support of the Labour Party to the resolution of the Cyprus problem.