Cyprus: Ankara wants dialogue for ‘two states’

Through a climate of tension followed by Turkey in the whole range of issues with Cyprus and Greece, Ankara is in a hurry to formulate the basis of the solution it wants in the Cyprus issue. The newest mandates that have left Ankara with the Turkish Cypriot leadership as well as the international community are talking about a dialogue aimed at a “two state” solution in Cyprus.

The policy in Cyprus is determined, as is well known, by Ankara and imposed on the Turkish Cypriot leadership. The orders go from the office of Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the relevant government officials dealing with the Cyprus issue. From there, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs transfers the orders to its “ambassador” in the occupied territories, who in turn demands from the Turkish Cypriot leadership their implementation.

Hulusi Akar is one of the main exponents of Erdogan’s positions on Turkey’s so-called national issues. That is why his positions on the Cyprus issue have their own weight. Referring to the Cyprus problem, he emphasized that what must be put on the table to be discussed is how to achieve a two-state solution in Cyprus. In an interview with the Turkish TV channel Haber Global, H. Akar said that “since 1974, Cyprus has been living in peace” and argued that “there is no point in continuing the negotiations on the Cyprus issue”.

Now, he claimed, “the solution is two equally sovereign states. We have to discuss how to do that,” adding that “if they try to provoke fait accompli, their efforts will be in vain.”

The Akar positions record the course that the Turkish side will continue to follow in the Cyprus issue. The Turkish Cypriot leadership, in full compliance with Turkey’s suggestions, promotes positions and ideas that serve this logic, namely the “two-state” solution. This is confirmed by the repeated statements of the leader of the Turkish Cypriots, Ersin Tatar. Who at the same time tries to promote the logic of the existence of two separate states on the island and through his proposals for confidence building measures.

Hulusi Akar in his statements was again provocative towards Greece and repeated Erdogan’s phrase that Turkey “isn’t joking”. He further asserted that Turkey is determined to live in peace and prosperity with its neighbors. “This is our goal. However, in Greece – and we should not blame the Greek people – some specific individuals for their own personal interests, for reasons of internal consumption, tend to use the tension with Turkey. There is no other explanation. We must get rid of this their love for armaments, for alliances. It does great damage to the Greek people.

A country that has a debt of €439 billion, he continued, must be careful. “I don’t say it, Greeks who are reasonable say it. Unfortunately, these people continue the tension with Turkey. It is not possible for them to get anywhere with them. We have absolute justice. And despite the violations, we say to them come and discuss and find a peaceful solution,” he said. He also accused Greece of presenting old photos to hurt Turkey.

Map showing half of the Aegean and Crete in Turkish

An incredible map depicting the islands of the Eastern Aegean and Crete as Turkish territories was offered by his followers to the nationalist leader of the Nationalist Action Party (MIR) Devlet Bakhtseli. Notably, he is also a government partner of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

Bakhceli visited the headquarters of the “Grey Wolves” nationalist organization, of which he is effectively the head, and had a meeting with its executives.

During the ceremony his followers offered him this map where the islands of the Eastern Aegean as well as Crete are listed as Turkish territories.

The map seems to have been prepared on the basis of what Bakhtseli had said a month ago, when in his statements he called for the declaration of an EEZ in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean and for the islands to join Turkish territory.

Source: filenews