We do not meddle with Turkish Cypriots’ internal matters, Cyprus Foreign minister reiterates

Cyprus Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Christodoulides reiterated on Saturday the government’s position that it does not meddle with the Turkish Cypriot community’s internal matters, expressing the hope that the next Turkish Cypriot leader will be a proponent of a bizonal federation solution and will be in favour of a resumption of Cyprus talks as soon as possible.

Christodoulides attended the 56th Munich Security Conference, on the sidelines of which he also had meetings with his counterparts from Kuwait, Albania, Iraq, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates and with US Senator Robert Menendez.

Replying to a CNA question on the process in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus for the selection of the new Turkish Cypriot leader Christodoulides noted that “I wish to publicly say that we do not meddle in Turkish Cypriots’ internal matters.”

“Our Turkish Cypriot compatriots are particularly sensitive in anyone meddling, whether it be us, as their compatriots or a third country, in their internal matters,” he added.

The Foreign Affairs Minister expressed the hope that the new leader of the Turkish Cypriot community will be a proponent of a bizonal federation solution and will be in favour of the resumption of talks as soon as possible from the point they stopped at Crans Montana.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.