TRNC News

Presidential Spokesman Mr. Hasan Ercakica commented on Russia’s decision to recognize South Ossetia

and Abkhazia’s independence:

“This should be a lesson for the Greek Cypriot side”

Presidential spokesman Mr. Hasan Ercakica said that the fact that Russia has decided to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia’s independence and the recent developments in the region should be a warning for the Greek Cypriot side.

Answering journalists questions during the weekly press conference, Presidential Spokesman Ercakica commented on the recent developments in the region. Presidential Spokesman Ercakica pointed out that since Kosovo is recognized by the Security Council members such as the USA and the UK and, that Russia has decided to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the norms of the international law have been changed and there are lessons to be learned from all these developments for the Greek Cypriot side.

Saying “We are in pursuit of a common state based on the political equality of the two peoples and the equal status of the two constituent states”, Spokesman Ercakica also added that this is the purpose of the negotiations which will commence on 3 September 2008 and the recent developments in the region are the indications of the urgency to reach the said aim.

Stating that there is nothing at this point necessitating the Turkish Cypriot side to change its position regarding the Cyprus problem, Spokesman Ercakica said “We are already in favor of a structure which shall not prejudice the Turkish Cypriots’ right of self determination and, in which the Turkish Cypriot people shall be able to exercise their right of self determination under the umbrella of a new state of Cyprus that will be established. Logically, what the Turkish Cypriot side can achieve alone regarding this issue is limited. The Greek Cypriot side should also employ the same point of view and create opportunities to that end”.

Russian authorities should reconsider their cases

Presidential Spokesman Mr. Hasan Ercakica called upon the Russian authorities to reconsider their cases and their knowledge concerning the Cyprus problem after the position they employed during the developments in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Referring to the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement in which he stated that “The Ossetians and Abkhazians could not have been forced to live together with those who have attacked them”, Spokesman Ercakica said that “After this point, the Russian authorities need to revise their cases and their knowledge concerning the Cyprus problem. Since 1950s the Turkish Cypriot people have been forced to establish their own separate administration as a result of the Greek Cypriot attacks. The Turkish Cypriots have been striving to ensure their own safety, maintain their economic existence, and improve their social solidarity since 1963 in order to survive under their own separate administration. Given that the Ossetians and the Abkhazians can not be forced to live together with those who have attacked them, the Turkish Cypriot people also have the right to self determination in return for the Greek Cypriot attacks. In this context, the Russian authorities should be ready to change their views concerning the Cyprus problem as well as their position to act like a Greek Cypriot militant regarding the Cyprus problem.”