Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu indicated that if there were negotiations between the two sides of the island of Cyprus, they should be “between two countries and not between two societies”, emphasizing “the need for equality in sovereignty and an equal international standing between the two sides on the island”.

At a joint press conference with the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Arsen Tatar, in the capital Lefkosa, he explained that “confidence-building measures between the two parts of the island, proposed by the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades, did not bring anything new and sought to dilute the negotiation process”, stressing that “Turkey” and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have a common position on the issue on the island.”

Cavusoglu noted that “the rights of the Turkish Cypriots have been confirmed since 1960, but were later usurped and Turkey will not allow the denial of the rights of the Turkish Cypriots”, and stated that “the Turkish side will submit proposals for cooperation in the coming days, which will improve cooperation between two parts of the island.