Lack of Cyprus progress due to Greek Cypriot ‘whims’ - Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed the lack of progress in the Cyprus settlement talks on the “whims” of Greek Cypriots.

Speaking at an Iftar dinner at the offices of ruling party AKP for ambassadors on Monday evening in Ankara, Erdogan said that due to the whim of the Greek Cypriot side, a solution to the Cyprus problem could not be reached.

Iftar is the evening meal with which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset.

Erdogan said that people are going through a painful period and that no one feels safe in the real sense of the word.

Solving the problems of the world goes through diplomacy. But lately, this is failing. Due to the whims of the Greek Cypriot community, the distance cannot be bridged for a solution to the Cyprus problem, Erdogan said.

Talks for a settlement solution are currently at a standstill in anticipation of the arrival of an envoy of the UN Secretary-General, to probe the potential resumption of settlement talks. 

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci in April proposed whether the Greek Cypriot side would accept resuming talks based on the Guterres Framework which was left unanswered until date.

 Edited from Cyprus Mail