The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret Özersay, who is holding contacts in Ankara, met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu yesterday (3rd September).
Speaking at the joint press conference following the meeting, Özersay said “We are in full consensus with Turkey”. Özersay also said “As in other countries of the world, the current balances of power are also changing in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Relations between the international and regional actors are being reshaped. We are following the economic, political and military developments closely. Today, we have found a chance to coordinate these issues with our ally, strategic partner and guarantor, Turkey, once more”.
Özersay also added “As you would appreciate, the strategic importance of the island of Cyprus has increased much more in the changing world conjuncture. We have discussed the issue of natural resources with Çavuşoğlu of which the Turkish Cypriots also have as much rights as the Greek Cypriots. As the TRNC, we have always been in search of consensus and cooperation”.
Özersay also stated that they will continue to put forward well-intentioned approaches for the protection of the Turkish Cypriot people and Turkey’s rights and interests both in natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean and in other issues related to Cyprus.
Stating that there will be discussions ahead of the work of the UN General Assembly and the UN Secretary General’s temporary UN Envoy to Cyprus Jane Holl Lute’s report and the inter-country informal talks, Çavuşoğlu said: “We are working together to increase the TRNC’s international visibility. We gave the necessary messages to remove the isolation at the last Turkish Council meetings and made a joint declaration that we will be in solidarity with the Turkish Cypriot people”.
“First we need to discuss between us how and what will be negotiated and how a result-oriented negotiation process will begin in the upcoming period and then we need to talk with the other guarantor countries and the parties. Nobody has a tolerance for loss of time. We will be together in New York and Ankara in the coming days.” Çavuşoğlu added.
