ID :
161196
Tue, 02/15/2011 - 14:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/161196
The shortlink copeid
Turkey's EU negotiator says his country has strategic sensitivities in Cyprus
ANKARA (A.A) - 15.02.2011 - Turkey's Chief Negotiator for European Union accession talks Egemen Bagis on Tuesday said his country has some "very serious strategic sensitivities" in Cyprus.
"Without Turkey's efforts and guarantees the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus would fall under the Greek Cypriot domination," Bagis told a televised interview on a private news channel.
Relations between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) saw a compelling challenge after a group of Turkish Cypriots marched late January against an austerity plan backed by Ankara as protesters chanted slogans calling Turkey to "get its hands off the Turkish Cypriots."
The demonstration has drawn severe reactions from the Turkish officials including Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other senior government members.
"We have always protected and served our Turkish Cypriot brothers and sisters. They also know very well that without Turkey's efforts and guarantees the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus would fall under the Greek Cypriot domination. We have some very serious strategic sensitivities there," Bagis said.
Bagis said the TRNC was having the most prosperous era of its history but "certain opposition groups in the TRNC are trying to achieve their own ambitions over Turkey and they are fueling the incidents," Bagis said.
Bagis said Turkey braced many difficulties in its EU membership talks for the sake of the Turkish Cypriots, adding, however that Turkey would not give up on Cyprus to win a seat at the European Union.
"Without Turkey's efforts and guarantees the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus would fall under the Greek Cypriot domination," Bagis told a televised interview on a private news channel.
Relations between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) saw a compelling challenge after a group of Turkish Cypriots marched late January against an austerity plan backed by Ankara as protesters chanted slogans calling Turkey to "get its hands off the Turkish Cypriots."
The demonstration has drawn severe reactions from the Turkish officials including Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other senior government members.
"We have always protected and served our Turkish Cypriot brothers and sisters. They also know very well that without Turkey's efforts and guarantees the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus would fall under the Greek Cypriot domination. We have some very serious strategic sensitivities there," Bagis said.
Bagis said the TRNC was having the most prosperous era of its history but "certain opposition groups in the TRNC are trying to achieve their own ambitions over Turkey and they are fueling the incidents," Bagis said.
Bagis said Turkey braced many difficulties in its EU membership talks for the sake of the Turkish Cypriots, adding, however that Turkey would not give up on Cyprus to win a seat at the European Union.
