ANKARA
Turkey has rejected Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades' recent remarks that a new Turkish government may “directly affect” the negotiation talks over the divided island of Cyprus.
"We are astounded by the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades' remarks in Turkish media which attempt to relate the negotiation process towards finding a comprehensive solution for the island with the formation of a (new) government in our country," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday.
"The Greek Cypriot leader must first and foremost make well use of the current [window of] opportunity to find a solution to the Cyprus issue, and focus his efforts on concluding the negotiations held with Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci within the framework of the goodwill mission of the UN general-secretary," the statement read.
"We consider this attempt to question Turkey's commitment to finding a fair, permanent and viable solution to the Cyprus issue an intentional tactical maneuver," the statement said, adding that Turkey would continue to duly perform its international commitments as it always had, and keep contributing to efforts towards resolving the Cyprus issue "at the earliest," and "making the island and East Mediterranean a region of peace, stability and cooperation."
In an interview with Turkish daily Hurriyet Friday, Anastasiades said that "depending on who is going to form the coalition government in Turkey, or whether there is going to be a new election, I think the situation will affect Cyprus”.
Political tensions in the long-divided island have eased since full-fledged talks resumed on May 15, and the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders agreed May 28 on a five-step plan to resolve the Cyprus issue.
On May 28, Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades met at the UN's Good Office on the island, hosted by UN Special Adviser for Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide. During their talks, Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders agreed on a five-step plan to resolve the Cyprus issue.
The steps included opening more crossing points, interconnecting the power grids, allowing mobile phone interoperability on both sides of the island, resolving the issue of radio frequency conflicts, and forming a joint committee on gender equality on Cyprus.
The Greek Cypriot administration had unilaterally suspended the talks last October after Turkey issued an advisory on behalf of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for seismic research off the coast of Cyprus.
The island was divided into a Turkish Cypriot government in the northern third and a Greek Cypriot administration in the southern two-thirds after a 1974 military coup by Greece was followed by a peace operation by Turkey as a guarantor state in Cyprus.
