North Cyprus Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu stated that the Republic of Türkiye has put forward that the recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is the primary target, but that the British High Commissioner is trying to prevent this policy as he can foresee that North Cyprus will succeed.
In a written statement, Ertuğruloğlu criticized statements issued by the British High Commissioner İrfan Siddiq to members of the British community residing in North Cyprus during an event at the Olive Tree Hotel in Çatalköy on June 27.
Referring to a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation based on political equality in Cyprus, Ertuğruloğlu said that this policy was inconclusive following the Greek Cypriot side’s rejection adding that the matter was closed once and for all.
The New Cyprus policy is the main target of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Republic of Türkiye, the recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and its sovereignty, Ertuğruloğlu said, “This is what Siddiq is trying to prevent because he can see that this policy will succeed”
The Turkish Cypriot people using their sovereignty under the umbrella of a “united federal state” is not an opinion to be taken into account. The Turkish Cypriot people know how to use their sovereignty, there is no need for anyone else to tell or dictate this to them, the Foreign Minister is cited as saying.
“TWO-STATE PROPOSAL MISUNDERSTOOD”
Suggesting that the British High Commissioner Siddiq had misunderstood the Turkish Cypriot side’s two-state proposal, Ertuğruloğlu said “Our solution proposal is not only the model we put forward but the fact that we exist on this Island. This fact will be accepted sooner or later.”
Referring to Siddiq’s statements regarding flights, Ertuğruloğlu said, “Siddiq is not only trying to prevent the Turkish Cypriots residing in the UK from developing and victimizing them of isolations with false restrictions but also trying to convince them to return to an outdated federation model”.
“IRONIC WORDS”
Statements made by Siddiq that rejecting the prospect of a ‘united Cyprus’ will jeopardise membership to the ‘European Union’ (EU) was far from the truth, Ertuğruloğlu said. “Firstly there is no such possibility as a ‘United Cyprus’, this has been proven time and time again during the Cyprus talk. Without Türkiye’s realization of EU membership, and the fact that Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration are members of the EU, the Turkish Cypriot People being accepted into the bloc would mean its assimilation, he said adding that such statements issued by a representative of a country that has blatantly withdrawn from EU membership are quite ironic.
“IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR AN AMBASSADOR TO QUESTİON THE TREATY OF GUARANTEE”
“It is unacceptable for the ambassador of a country, which is the main architect of the emergence of many conflicts which are still unresolved and have caused bloodshed, to question the Treaty of Guarantee,” Ertuğruloğlu said.
“It is very clear that Siddiq, a representative of a country that has bases thousands of kilometres away on an island and is carrying out operations for its benefit on these bases, is clearly supporting the Greek Cypriot side’s position to preserve the status of the British bases. Unfortunately, the aforementioned Ambassador is ignoring diplomatic courtesy rules and is acting as a spokesman of the Greek Cypriot side,” the Foreign minister said.