Nami holds contacts in Washington
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (11.03.14) reports that Ozdil Nami, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has had the opportunity to discuss the Cyprus problem during high level contracts in the United States of America. Nami met with the US Deputy Secretary of State, William Burns. He told Kibris that the USA is interested in the solution process which has resumed in Cyprus and supports the solution. Nami noted that his contacts were positive and beneficial and that Burns expressed the wish for the negotiations that started in a positive climate with the joint declaration to “be concluded with constructive approaches”.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs of the USA, Eric Rubin, the country’s Ambassador to Nicosia, John Koenig, the “undersecretary” at the self-styled foreign ministry of the regime, Erhan Ercin, the “representative’ of the regime in Washington, Ahmet Erdengiz and the “director” at the ‘foreign ministry”, Huseyin Ozel participated in the meeting between Burns and Nami.
Nami expressed his satisfaction with the fact that the US interest in the Cyprus problem continues in a period during which international problems and conflicts are on the agenda. He said they had the opportunity to see the determination of the USA to continue the dialogue with the Turkish Cypriot side.
Replying to a question, Nami said that they discussed the positive influence of the solution of the Cyprus problem on the regional stability, the relations between the EU and Turkey and the EU and NATO, and on the cooperation in the region due to the efficient use of the hydrocarbon resources surrounding the island.
Nami argued that it is possible to reach a fair agreement based on the political equality of the two sides. He claimed that the expectations of the Turkish Cypriot side, which had voted ‘yes’ to the Annan Plan, has not been materialized and alleged that using the argument that the Turkish Cypriot side must give more concessions in order to reach an agreement to which both sides will vote ‘yes’ “is not a correct approach”.
Referring to the joint declaration, Nami argued that it includes “new elements” and therefore this opportunity should be used and not be wasted. He noted that with the joint declaration issues which had not been solved between the sides, such as the sovereignty, the citizenship and the equal status of the two states, have reached a result.
Nami said that taking steps which will bring the two communities closer to each other it would be useful, but noted that they told their interlocutors that these steps should be planned in a manner that will not disrupt the negotiations for finding a solution.
“We have put forward our expectations from the USA and the international community”, he noted adding that “we drew attention to the importance of the role of the UN”.
Nami said that during his visit in Washington he expressed their views on the Cyprus problem at various think tanks such as the Wilson Centre and the Atlantic Council. He said that he drew attention to the role of the solution in the regional cooperation. Nami gave also an interview to the Washington Times newspaper.
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (11.03.14) refers to the issue under the title “America in action” and reports that Nami told its correspondent that it would be useful for the confidence building measures to be discussed in a manner that will facilitate the life of the two “peoples”, but this must not influence the main elements of the comprehensive solution. On the contrary, he added, this should happen in a manner that supports and speeds up the comprehensive solution.
