Erdogan says he ignores proposals such as withdrawal of troops from Cyprus; Schultz: Accept that the whole of Cyprus joined the EU
Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (22.01.14) reports that the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that they do not listen to proposals such as the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops from Cyprus and that their fundamental principle is the establishment of “a federal structure based on two founding states”.

In statements yesterday in Brussels during a joint press conference with the President of the European Parliament (EP), Martin Schultz, Erdogan claimed that they have always supported the “TRNC’s” [Translator’s note: the breakaway regime established by Turkey in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus] approach to the process “with a constructive method”. Erdogan went on and alleged: “We think that Greece, because it is a guarantor power, should also support this process in the same manner. Especially, our fundamental principle is a federal structure based on two founding states. The acceptance of anything outside this is in any case out of the question”.
Erdogan said that the negotiations should be held with good will and alleged that the Greek Cypriot side should not run away from the negotiations.

Referring to the issue of the Turkish occupation troops in Cyprus, Erdogan argued: “Those who try to lead us to different places are behaving wrongly. For example, they told us something else today. Something such as the withdrawal of troops. We did not listen to such a proposal, we are not listening to such a proposal. Because this had come up in the Annan Plan. While we had accepted it in the Annan Plan, the Greek Cypriot side then had not accepted it”.

When Martin Schulz said that the Republic of Cyprus joined the European Union representing the entire island, Erdogan alleged that “south Cyprus”, as he described the Republic of Cyprus, does not represent the entire island. Erdogan claimed that according to the acquis communautaire, no country with internal problems could join the Union. He went on and alleged:

“Besides, in a Cyprus which is divided with the UN green line, the south has no right to represent north Cyprus. This is contrary to the acquis as well. If there was such an authority, then why are these negotiations conducted? Ignoring the Turks in northern Cyprus and presenting south Cyprus as the owner of the entire place there does not comply with the understanding of justice from the point of view of the international universal values.

At the moment there is unfortunately a wish for the TRNC to be condemned to nonexistence by force. Then, I can easily say this. Why we have held those meetings at Burgenstock in Switzerland? During those meetings we came to a final point. Until then, south Cyprus was not a member of the EU. After the meetings referendum was held. The TRNC kept its promise at the referendum. It said ‘yes’ by 65%, while south Cyprus said ‘no’ by 75%. Those who said ‘no’ were rewarded, while those who said ‘yes’ were not accepted into the EU. As a matter of fact there is an unjust practice there. The acceptance of south Cyprus into the EU is political. It is not in harmony with the acquis of the EU. If my esteemed friend Schultz reads the book written by the former German Chancellor Schroder, there is a six-page chapter there. In this chapter he explains how unjust the decision taken on Cyprus was”.

After Erdogan’s statements, Schultz said that they should prevent a quarrel in public between the Turkish Prime Minister and the President of the EP and added “we have to find a reasonable solution” to the Cyprus problem. He noted that he understands Erdogan’s position on this issue, but added: “The entire island has entered into the EU. Please accept this situation”

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