We are at the table as ‘two leaders’ everyone knows this; UN records and reports are public,” said Tufan Erhürman in a post regarding recent statements by Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis on Thursday, who claimed that at the negotiation table President Christodoulides is present as President of the Republic of Cyprus and as leader of the Greek Cypriot community.
According to Turkish Cypriot media, in a post on social media yesterday, May 1st, the Turkish Cypriot leader wrote that everyone knows that at this moment there are no “negotiations” underway, but rather that “we are at the discussion table.” Regardless of what the table is called, he added, everyone knows that “we, as ‘two leaders’, are and will remain at the table, while keeping our positions confidential outside of it. All UN reports and records related to these processes are publicly available.”
Mr. Erhürman questioned that since everything is so clear, “why do they keep repeating this position, which no one, including us, accepts, not only to our faces but also before the public?”
This claim, he said, has no value or meaning when the facts are clear and everyone knows it. He again questioned what the goal is: “To help resolve the issue?!!”
According to him, a “provocation” can succeed in only one way: “if the one being provoked falls victim to it! If not, it will remain pointless and ineffective! We are at the discussion table. We proceed with patience, calmness, seriousness, and determination…” he added.
Mr. Erhürman also stated that he has responded to only one-fifth of the statements made by his “counterpart” and is trying not to raise this issue (i.e., the status of the interlocutors), which he has addressed in private meetings. He warned against constantly bringing it up at every meeting and opening ceremony, “against attempting to establish new positions in the absence of our counterpart, poisoning the atmosphere, and engaging in blame games.”
He also referred to claims and positions that have not even been raised in bilateral meetings but are, according to him, being introduced through the media.
Source: CNA (Cyprus News Agency)
