Turkish party head has called for a two-state solution in Cyprus.
“For a future of Cyrpus where there is peace, respect and equal rights, a bipartite sovereign state structure is necessary,” Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, told his party’s parliamentary group on Tuesday.
“TURKISH CYPRIOTS CANNOT BE KEPT AWAY FROM THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN”
“Calling for federalism [in Cyprus] is useless. One-sided impositions remain inconclusive. Turkey’s active and de facto [rights as] guarantor should continue without any pre-conditions,” Bahçeli said. He added that Turkey expects the international community to lift embargos and restrictions on Turkish Cypriots on the island.
Bahçeli said that Turkey would never give up its rights in the eastern Mediterranean. “Turkish Cypriots cannot be discriminated against and kept away from the eastern Mediterranean,” he said.
Turkey has consistently opposed Greece’s efforts to declare an exclusive economic zone based on small islands near Turkish shores, violating the interests of Turkey, the country with the longest coastline in the Mediterranean.
Ankara has also said energy resources near Cyprus must be shared fairly between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot administration.