ERCAKICA: “TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE IS
SPENDING EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN THE 8 JULY PROCESS”
Presidential Spokesman Mr. Hasan
Ercakica stated that Turkish Cypriot side is spending efforts to
maintain the 8 July process.
Reminding the Greek Cypriot
allegations that Turkish Cypriot side has decided to strike the final
blow to the Gambari process, at the weekly press conference, Spokesman
Mr. Ercakica said “It seems that the Greek Cypriot side would only be
happy to dispose of the said process as a result of our so-called blow.
However, the Greek Cypriot side should stop hoping that we will be the
ones to strike the final blow. The efforts of the Greek Cypriot side to
derail the process will not yield results and the Gambari process will
be maintained in accordance with its main purpose”.
Spokesman Ercakica also stated that
Greek Cypriot administration directing the Cyprus Issue into channels
other than the 8 July process, would like to see that the UN settlement
plan is rendered completely invalid.
Spokesman Ercakica said that, instead
of pursuing a timely settlement, the Greek Cypriot side aims to spread
the issue over the years and settle for a non-functional negotiation
process.
Underlining that the Turkish Cypriot
side is committed to immediate commencement of the comprehensive
settlement negotiations and reaching a timely, just and comprehensive
settlement for the Cyprus Issue, Spokesman Ercakica said “We are ready
to work with all the relevant parties that are ready to provide their
contributions to our efforts. However, we will also continue to resist
the approaches contradicting our aim”.
Commenting on the news item regarding
the circular issued by Mr. Chrisostomos, the Archbishop of the Greek
Cypriot Orthodox Church, who is planning to collect money from the Greek
Cypriots for the maintenance of the churches in the TRNC, Ercakica said:
“This again, indicates that the Greek
Cypriot side has abandoned the idea of reaching a comprehensive
settlement and from now on, it will only spend efforts to start a
process of osmosis and to create new problems in Cyprus. This behavior
of the Greek Cypriot Orthodox Church will not only strain the relations
between the two peoples but will also damage the efforts of settlement
permanently. Those who favor a just, comprehensive and lasting
settlement have to reconsider their moves carefully before they act.”
