Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman stated that he is ready to reach an agreement on six of the seven points on which, according to him, the UN Secretary-General expects progress.
As he noted, António Guterres requested progress on the terms of reference, methodology, and internal issues in order to convene a 5+1 meeting, adding that he and President Christodoulides have taken some steps, but he would like to do more.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
As reported by the website “Kipris Postasi,” in an interview yesterday on SIM TV, Tufan Erhurman said that among the issues on which Mr. Guterres expects progress are crossing points, demining, the right of children born to mixed-marriage couples to EU citizenship, sports, joint disaster response mechanisms, and the creation of joint mechanisms regarding irregular migration.
He stated that he is ready to reach an agreement on six of these seven points, while regarding the seventh—border crossing points—there are certain issues that he is also prepared to discuss.
Referring to the issue of citizenship for children of mixed marriages, he said that this is not a confidence-building measure, but a human rights issue. He noted that while the Council of Ministers may grant citizenship to a certain number of such children at each session, the real question is how this is perceived by the international community. The UN Secretary-General, he continued, included the issue of EU citizenship for children born to mixed-marriage couples among the topics on which he expected progress during his recent visit. “This right to citizenship continues to be violated,” Mr. Erhurman stated.
He also said that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to assist “southern” Cyprus in the event of any disaster. “I declare today that we are ready to help in any way we can in the event of any disaster in the south. We are ready to help.” He emphasized that this would not turn into a diplomatic issue involving phone calls or statements after every incident, saying, “We are ready to do whatever we can”. Such a mechanism, he noted, is among the points the Secretary-General raised.
“A solution is something that will benefit both peoples. The lack of a solution is something that causes losses for both peoples,” he said. Tufan Erhurman stated that he is a realist when it comes to the resolution process. “Diplomacy and dialogue are in place. The Secretary-General has charted the right course, and this is what needed to happen. We are ready to follow this path. But where the path leads us, we will see as we walk it.”
“We will continue to be at the negotiating table,” said Mr. Erhurman, noting that it is a table for talks, not negotiations. He also noted that the only meeting he has scheduled in New York—where he will travel toward the end of the month—is with the UN Secretary-General.
