Statement of President Erhürman: "We are ready to engage"
“Guided by the political will of our people for a settlement, we continue our efforts with earnestness and patience.”
President Tufan Erhürman issued a written statement containing his assessment of the key matters presently on the public agenda.
Emphasising that “in line with the political will of our people for a solution, we continue our meetings and efforts with earnestness and patience,” President Erhürman stated as follows:
Questions are being raised in the media and among the public pertaining to certain issues -- on some of these, statements have already been made, whilst on some others no clarification has yet been provided. In line with the principle of transparency we have consistently upheld, I believe it is both appropriate and useful to respond to these matters.
1. “Has the talks process frozen?”
No. Meetings at the technical and diplomatic level are continuing. Ms. María Ángela Holguín, the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, is expected to come to the island toward the end of the month. We are ready to engage.
In line with our results-oriented approach, we are calling for an acceleration of technical-level work ahead of that meeting and for the visit of Ms. Holguín to produce tangible outcomes that will help foster an atmosphere conducive to a settlement.
2. Regarding the so-called “peep-hole ritual,” within the context of visits by European dignatories to the island on the “occasion of the EU rotating presidency”:
I have been asked for my views on this matter. Quite frankly, given the current circumstances, I do not regard it as a serious issue, nor do I take it seriously. After decades of the non-solution of the Cyprus issue and years of stagnation, creating an environment conducive to a settlement in Cyprus -- as well as the achieving a settlement itself -- is a serious matter. Guided by the will of the Turkish Cypriot people, we continue our meetings and efforts with steadfast earnestness and patience.
3. The issue of direct flights
The crux of the matter is as follows: Direct flights are of great importance to us, and abandoning our demands on this matter is not an option.
At the same time, however, this should not serve as a pretext for inaction on the broader challenges facing our tourism sector. I do not accept the notion that “nothing can be done for tourism unless direct flights are in place.”
Emphasising that “in line with the political will of our people for a solution, we continue our meetings and efforts with earnestness and patience,” President Erhürman stated as follows:
Questions are being raised in the media and among the public pertaining to certain issues -- on some of these, statements have already been made, whilst on some others no clarification has yet been provided. In line with the principle of transparency we have consistently upheld, I believe it is both appropriate and useful to respond to these matters.
1. “Has the talks process frozen?”
No. Meetings at the technical and diplomatic level are continuing. Ms. María Ángela Holguín, the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, is expected to come to the island toward the end of the month. We are ready to engage.
In line with our results-oriented approach, we are calling for an acceleration of technical-level work ahead of that meeting and for the visit of Ms. Holguín to produce tangible outcomes that will help foster an atmosphere conducive to a settlement.
2. Regarding the so-called “peep-hole ritual,” within the context of visits by European dignatories to the island on the “occasion of the EU rotating presidency”:
I have been asked for my views on this matter. Quite frankly, given the current circumstances, I do not regard it as a serious issue, nor do I take it seriously. After decades of the non-solution of the Cyprus issue and years of stagnation, creating an environment conducive to a settlement in Cyprus -- as well as the achieving a settlement itself -- is a serious matter. Guided by the will of the Turkish Cypriot people, we continue our meetings and efforts with steadfast earnestness and patience.
3. The issue of direct flights
The crux of the matter is as follows: Direct flights are of great importance to us, and abandoning our demands on this matter is not an option.
At the same time, however, this should not serve as a pretext for inaction on the broader challenges facing our tourism sector. I do not accept the notion that “nothing can be done for tourism unless direct flights are in place.”