Speaking during celebrations marking the 26th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), Soyer praised the Turkish government’s attitude on the Cyprus talks, expressing his opinion that the Cyprus question cannot be settled with hostility. He said the Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) rational foreign policy moves were giving the Cypriot Turks the upper hand in the international arena. He said certain groups against Turkey’s democratization had used Cyprus as a tool to promote their own goals.
Soyer also commented on Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Çiçek’s words in a speech for the 26th anniversary of the KKTC. Çiçek had said that if the European Union would ever force Turkey to choose between Turkish Cyprus and the EU, they should understand that the preference of Turkey and the Turkish nation would always be Cyprus. Soyer said Çiçek’s words should be interpreted as a serious warning that the EU should not use Cyprus as blackmail material against Turkey.
Soyer also gave information on the state of talks on Cyprus. He said during KKTC President Mehmet Ali Talat’s latest visit to Ankara , a common goal to hold a referendum on unification of the island in the spring of next year was set.
Soyer said that during his last visit to Talat, Alexander Downer, the UN special envoy on Cyprus, had stated his appreciation for the Turkish side’s policies, referring to them as being in line with the UN’s parameters. Soyer said this effectively refuted the Greek side’s argument that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots were violating international agreements.
