Eroglu briefed the parties on the talks; Cakici: The Turkish side’s proposal on governance and power sharing takes the negotiations backwards
Under the title: “They listened to Eroglu and conveyed their views””, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (06.08.11) reports that on Friday, Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu held a 4.5 hour briefing on the intensified Cyprus negotiations with the six political parties represented in the “assembly” of the breakaway regime and exchanged views with them on the process.
In statements after the meeting, the chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP) and self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk said that according to the information they have, there was not much change in the stance of President Christofias in the summit in Geneva and the period that followed. He argued that they were sad because President Christofias submitted no proposal in Geneva except his past proposals, and alleged that this stance prevents the developments. According to Kucuk, the fact that the gas and natural gas explorations came onto the agenda in a period when a “government crisis” exists in the south, as he described the Republic of Cyprus, is “meaningful”.
The leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Ozkan Yorgancioglu said that they told Eroglu that they will support him, if he is constructive during the intensified negotiations and if he contributes to the solution of the Cyprus problem and makes constructive proposals.
Mehmet Cakici, leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), said that they are not satisfied with the course of the process. Cakici noted that they do not like the recent proposals of the Turkish Cypriot side and described as wrong the oil and natural gas explorations by the Republic of Cyprus, accusing the Greek Cypriots of not taking into consideration the rights of the Turkish Cypriots in the Republic of Cyprus. He added that they do not approve the proposals of the Turkish side and that they conveyed their views to Eroglu. Noting that he could not get into details because of the secrecy in the talks, but the proposals of the Turkish Cypriot side on the governance and power sharing are proposals that take the process backwards.
Serdar Denktas, leader of the Democratic Party (DP), said that they closely follow the process, but could make no statement because of the principle of secrecy. Responding to a question regarding Prime Minister Erdogan’s recent statements, Denktas noted that if Erdogan’s statements have established a “red line”, they are important from two points of view: The one is that they are “motivating” the Greek Cypriots and the EU and the other is that Turkey should stand behind its word. Denktas argued that Turkey has nothing to lose and it will gain from this process, if it stands behind its word.
Turgay Avci, chairman of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP), said they support the views submitted by Eroglu at the negotiating table and called on the Republic of Cyprus to “abandon its madness” on the issue of oil and natural gas. He alleged that Turkey and the “TRNC”, breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, have definitely a say on the oil and natural gas and added that if the Greek Cypriots do not abandon this madness, problems will be experienced in the negotiations process.
Tahsin Ertugruloglu, leader of the Democracy and Trust Party (DGP), said that there was no change in their views on the negotiating process after what they heard in this meeting. He argued that the Greek Cypriot side’s approach does not require for the Turkish Cypriots to have much expectations
