PM and FM visit Ankara
PRIME Minister Tufan Erhürman and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay paid a joint visit to Ankara on Wednesday, where they met officials including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The official trip to Turkey — the customary first port of call for new ministers — by members of the four-party coalition government came just over a month after it was formed, following January’s general election. The pair had been invited by Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım. They also met Turkish officials and discussed the Cyprus issue and domestic affairs.
Holding a joint press conference with Mr Yıldırım on Wednesday, Dr Erhürman said: “We have the same sensitivities as [Turkey], which is the political equality of the Turkish Cypriots [with the Greek Cypriots].”
Mr Yıldırım said he was “delighted to say that we do not have even the slightest difference of views with the prime minister [Erhürman] and foreign minister [Özersay]”.
Following a meeting of officials and delegations in Çankaya, Mr Yıldırım said: “If there is a necessity for a possible permanent, sustainable solution on the island, there is a necessity for the southern Greek Cypriot side to be prepared for this mentally.”
He said that “whatever the conditions, Turkey is by the side of the Turkish Cypriots”, adding, in apparent reference to Afrika newspaper’s criticism of Turkey’s military operation in Syria: “However, those impertinent bodies and people who speak out against the just cause of our countries must be effectively brought under control, which I am sure will be an element to be taken up by the new government.”
He continued: “The international community [and] the southern Greek Cypriot side have to have a thorough rethink . . .
“Sharing [power and natural resources] cannot be done through words, but through mental [acceptance]. They [the Greek Cypriots] have to persuade the North Cyprus side. What is fundamental here?
“Political equality; a just governance. The joint sharing of wealth and for mutual trust to be given for the rights of each side that forms the federal structure. For protection to be given for independence, which was ascertained through great sacrifices. For protection to be given to life and properties against internal and external threats. For the conditions of Turkish security and guarantees to be continued under any case.
“If this is not put forward right from the start, any new search for a solution will end without a conclusion and a sustainable [solution] will not be reached.”
Mr Yıldırım said Turkey was working on “serious projects” to bolster the infrastructure of the TRNC’s education, tourism and agriculture sectors.
“Of course, the potential is much more. I am delighted to see that [Dr Erhürman] and [his] Cabinet’s fundamental objective is for the development and prosperity of North Cyprus . . . and to implement projects that are expected by the public . . . which they have started working on.”
Dr Erhürman said the meeting with Mr Yıldırım had been “very beneficial” and added: “Even if there is no legal recognition [of the TRNC], it is important for the people to be recognised and accepted . . . We place great importance on being able to be represented in the fields of sport, culture and art . . . We are in need of Turkey’s support for this.”