Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret Özersay said that they are opposed to the status quo, that is to say likewise continuation of the UN Peacekeepin Forces in Cyprus therefore they will continue their diplomatic initiatives in this direction with determination.
On the second day of his New York contacts, Özersay met with the Term President of the UN Security Council, Dominican Republic UN Ambassador Jose Singer. In his statement through his social media account, Özersay expressed “We had a very fruitful meeting. We shared our views regarding the UN Peacekeeping Forces in Cyprus and the future of the Cyprus problem. We will continue our contacts with the representatives of the Security Council Member States.”
Minister Özersay also evaluated his New York contacts on BRT prime news. Özersay said “The Greek Cypriot side considers the change of mandate of the UN Peace Forces in Cyprus as a breakdown of the status quo therefore they are against it. Our struggle is in this way”.
Pointing out that the Greek Cypriot side tries to relate the mandate and the reason for the presence of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force and the Turkish troops in Cyprus, Özersay stressed that the UN was sent to Cyprus in 1964 for another purpose, however the conditions have now changed.
Özersay said: “It is clear that there was not a negotiation process in Cyprus after 2017. The Greek Cypriot side is trying to prevent a change in the UN peacekeeping force by implying that there is a negotiation process. This is an inconsistent approach. We are against the understanding of likewise continuation of the UNFICYP, namely the continuation of the status quo, and we are conducting diplomatic initiatives in this direction.”
Within the framework of his contacts in New York yesterday (8th January), Özersay held bilateral meetings with the Security Council Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations, the temporary member of the Council Germany Permanent Representative to the UN; the term President of the Council the Dominican Republic Ambassador to the United Nations, the temporary member of the Council Peru UN Ambassador and representatives of other member countries of the Council.
Özersay and his delegation travelled to Washington this morning (9th January).