Ozersay: We are heading towards the last stage
“Under the above-title Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (22.11.11) reports that in statements yesterday to Turkish Cypriot Ada television, Kudret Ozersay, special representative of the Turkish Cypriot leader, said that the UN Secretary-General had not announced the last stage of the Cyprus negotiations during the recent tripartite summit with the two community leaders in New York, but “he gave the message that we are coming to the end”.
Noting that the tripartite meeting which will be held in January is the fifth one within a year, Ozersay added: “We are heading towards the last stage. The important thing is to prepare the community, if something is happening”.
Asked whether the “constructive stance” allegedly exhibited by the Turkish Cypriot side in the negotiations would have any value in case the process ends unsuccessfully, Ozersay responded that increasing expectations too much would be tantamount to disappointment once more. He added: “What we understood so far is that we have not taken a promise in this direction by anyone?There is a problem in front of us and our target is to end this uncertainty. This uncertainty will be eliminated with the solution of the Cyprus problem. If this problem is not solved, then it would be our most natural right to demand the end of this uncertainty”.
Responding to a question regarding the expectations of the Turkish Cypriot side from Dervis Eroglu’s visit to Brussels today, Ozersay said that Eroglu visited various centres since he came to “power” and added that these meetings are substantial, they are not held only for the show. He noted that substantial talks will be held during their meeting with the EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso, and during the meeting they will soon have with the President of the European Parliament. He said that they should explain to their interlocutors what they expect from the EU so that the negotiation process in Cyprus ends with success and added that they will discuss the issue of the solution becoming primary law of the EU.
Ozersay argued that in spite of the fact that the EU did not use its organs to encourage the Greek Cypriots, the Turkish side should keep pressuring in this direction. He described Eroglu’s visit important in this sense and added that more visits will be made within this framework. “The Greek Cypriot side tries to prevent this kind of contacts when it finds out something beforehand. We will continue our efforts and we will make announcements the day we do something. It is true that Europe, the USA and all the countries appreciate our effort? “, he added.
Ozersay reiterated that not only the Turkish Cypriot side but the UN Secretary ? General as well said that progress was achieved during the recent tripartite meeting in New York. Noting that only the Greek Cypriot side says that there was no progress, Ozersay expressed the view that this is due to the call made by the Greek Cypriot opposition parties to President Christofias before the Greentree summit not to go to New York. He argued that President Christofias tried to calm down the opposition parties saying that there was no progress and it was difficult to say that there was something positive when he returned from New York.
