Tufan Erhürman has accused the Greek Cypriot side of repeatedly referring in public statements to “negotiations”, arguing that such claims distort the current state of contacts and attempt to shape positions outside the framework of direct discussions.
In a new social media post, Erhürman stressed that there is currently no negotiation process under way. “There is not yet a negotiation; we are simply at the ‘meeting table’,” he wrote.
Criticism of public statements
According to the Turkish Cypriot leader, statements by the Greek Cypriot leadership are being made in a variety of contexts, including meetings, the opening of organisations and responses to unrelated questions, and are then repeated publicly despite concerns raised during private discussions.
Erhürman said the Turkish Cypriot side had shown considerable restraint in public appearances and had been careful not to raise the issue in public events.
He added that no new position had been presented that was not already known to the other side, and that statements made by the interlocutor had not been disclosed publicly unless they had already been made public.
He also noted that the Turkish Cypriot side had either responded to or deliberately avoided commenting on what he described as one fifth of incoming statements.
Claims not raised in talks
Erhürman further argued that positions which had not even been raised during bilateral meetings were now being presented through the media.
Referring to the issue of status, he said the Greek Cypriot leadership had attended the talks “not only as the leader of the Greek Cypriot community but also as the ‘President of the Republic of Cyprus’”.
He reiterated that everyone involved knows that there is currently no negotiation process under way and that the parties are simply meeting.
“The public knows that we are at the table as two leaders,” he wrote.
Call for restraint
Concluding his statement, Erhürman questioned why the position describing the contacts as negotiations continues to be repeated when, as he argued, none of the parties has accepted such a characterisation.
He said such claims carry no real significance when the facts are known and added that “there is only one way for a provocation to succeed: for the person being provoked to react”.
He concluded by stating that the Turkish Cypriot side would proceed “with patience, calmness, sincerity and determination.”