Erdogan says European Parliament was being unfair

Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said it was unfair that the European Parliament still considers Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side as responsible for the lack of a solution in Cyprus despite all the positive steps they had taken over the past few years, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris reports.

Recalling that the Turkish Cypriots had voted yes at the referendum in 2004 while the Greek Cypriots had voted no, he wondered why Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots are still portrayed as guilty?

"Is the European Parliament blind? Let them open their eyes a little bit. Let them open their ears to the truth, to the reality. And let their tongue speak the truth, the realities.”

Speaking at a lunch with the ambassadors of the EU member states in Ankara , Mr Erdogan said the recent resolution by the European Parliament had created great disappointment in Turkey. “The European Parliament is acting like a spokesperson for the Greek Cypriot side,” he added.

He said Turkey had encouraged the Turkish Cypriots to submit the package of proposals on governance and power sharing, and that in doing so they Turkish Cypriots had shown great flexibility thereby offering a real chance for a breakthrough.

He also said that he had requested the UN Secretary-General's personal involvement at the General Assembly in September and that this had happened with a delay of four and a half months.

"It is clear that the negotiations cannot continue forever. The Turkish Cypriot side is the victim of the status quo on the island and has proved its will for a solution. And this should not be allowed any more. The forthcoming period is of vital importance from the point of view of the fate of the process. We believe that the EU member states have a special responsibility on the issue of encouraging the Greek Cypriot side to show the necessary will on the road to a solution.”