President Dervis Eroglu has argued that the Annan Plan was a flawed solution for Cyprus and that on the contrary it was a plan which would have created unrest. Replying to journalists’ questions, Eroglu argued that the important thing right now is what has been discussed with the Greek Cypriot side during the ongoing process since 2008.
He noted: “The fundamental issue we put emphasis on is to make an agreement having as its starting point the existing realities in Cyprus. Otherwise new areas of conflict will come up and what you call agreement will be turned into a document which creates ground for conflict”.
Replying to a question on the Annan Plan, Eroglu said:
“The Annan Plan belongs to the past. Of course, it is possible to get benefits from all the documents prepared up until now from all the framework agreements. However, what is written in the Annan Plan itself, has become irrelevant because it was rejected by one of the sides in the referendum. In spite of the fact that the current President of the Greek Cypriot Administration Nikos Anastasiades had carried out a ‘yes’ campaign during the referendum process for the Annan Plan in 2004, now he is in the position of being the main opponent of the Annan Plan. The National Unity Party under my leadership in 2004, had carried out a campaign for the ‘no’ vote. In my view, the Annan Plan is not a solution plan. On the contrary, it was a plan that would create unrest”.
Eroglu said that two states exist now on the island, “No one can change this reality. Two states are living side by side at the moment. We will see. I repeat: A solution is possible having as its starting point the existing realities in Cyprus”.
Asked to comment on the proposal as regards the return of the fenced off city of Maras (Varosha) to its former occupants and the opening of the Famagusta port under the auspices of the EU, Eroglu stated:
“The issue of Maras (Varosha) has come many times onto the agenda in one way or the other, but at the moment for us it is an issue that should be included in a comprehensive solution. The view put forward by motherland Turkey on the issue of the opening of the ports, is the lifting of the embargo imposed by the Greek Cypriots for a port in the TRNC, in return for the opening of a port in Turkey for the Greek Cypriot side. If they come to this point, it will happen, if not, no conclusion could be reached”.
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