Turkey’s policy to meet Cypriot determination

Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Erato Kozakou Marcoullis said on Sunday that a solution of the Cyprus problem should aim at the reunification of the island and its people in a bizonal bicommunal federation, noting that if Turkey continued to promote division and secession it would inevitably face the determination of the people of Cyprus and the international community.

Speaking at Larnaca Airport before departing for Kuwait and referring to the recent visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to New York, Marcoullis said ”it is no secret that Turkey is trying to create a climate of mobility for after the presidential elections,” due to take place in February.

”We want mobility, we want a solution, we would have liked this period until the presidential elections to have been used to prepare negotiations,” she added.

Marcoullis noted that an initiative for a Cyprus settlement should be ”within the right framework, without mediation, without tight deadlines, and must of course aim at the reunification of the island, the reunification of the people of Cyprus, in a state that will be federal, bicommunal and bizonal.”

She added that this form of settlement was reflected in UN resolutions and EU decisions, noting that it appeared that the Turkish side was promoting other options.

”Over the past year, Turkey, through all its officials at the highest level, is promoting a solution of two separate states,” she explained, adding that ”if Turkey continues this policy for division and secession, it will certainly face the determination of the people of Cyprus and the international community.”

Replying to questions, Marcoullis said she believed there would soon be a favourable result in the issue of the illegal sea routes between Syria and the closed port of Famagusta.

”Our view is that, although we have no official notification that the route has been terminated, through contacts I have with Syrian officials and the reassurances we have received from time to time, it appears that over the past month there have been no routes,” she added.