Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayiip Erdogan’s statements during his recent illegal visit to Cyprus’ Turkish occupied areas have caused concerns to the UN Secretariat, according to diplomatic sources.
UN Under-Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe has been assigned with the task of looking into what Ankara is aiming at, with regard to Cyprus, they note. Pascoe, they indicate, is expected to summon Turkey’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ertugrul Apakan during the coming days and before the UN Secretary General’s good offices mission report on Cyprus is released.

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias has already sent letters to UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon and Security Council five permanent members, denouncing Erdogan’s statements while Cypriot and Greek diplomats have made representations to the UN Secretariat, requesting that these statements are included in Ban’s report.

UN Secretariat officials have assured the diplomats that they disagree with these statements. The UN report is all but ready, and the final touches will be put with Pascoe’s return to New York.

In his statements earlier this week, Erdogan questioned the existence of the Republic of Cyprus and threatened the EU that accession negotiations with Brussels will put on halt if Cyprus assumes the rotating six-monthly presidency of the Union, in July next year, without a political settlement in Cyprus. The Turkish PM also said that he would not be returning Morphou and Karpass areas to the Greek Cypriots, as part of a negotiated deal on Cyprus.