Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced that “Morphou can never be returned [to the Republic of Cyprus]” during his Istanbul talks with the occupied areas so-called ‘Prime Minister’ Huseyin Ozgurgun on Wednesday.
Ozgurgun told Turkish Cypriot journalists what Erdogan had said after his meeting with the President had concluded.
According to Ozgurgun, Erdogan said: “Morphou will never be allowed to be returned [to the Republic of Cyprus].
Erdogan added: [Since the 1974 invasion] there has been no was no change in our views.
“AGREEMENTS DON’T LAST FOREVER”
“Agreements do not last forever, but if the Greek Cypriot side shows a compromise on the [territorial] map and we agree with the solution terms, then we can talk with Greece and debate the issue,” affirmed Erdogan.
The Turkish may have been referring to Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci scheduled talks on Thursday concerning a document containing the criteria for both sides on the territory issue.
Both leaders began week-long talks in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland on Monday, scheduled to last until Friday, focussing on the territorial issue.
Ozgurgun reportedly said, according to SigmaLive Greek, that the occupied areas illegal regime will not settle for a territorial rate below 30 per cent.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and illegally occupied its northern third.
Anastasiades and Akinci have been engaged in UN-led negotiations since May 2015, with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.
ERDOGAN CALLS TRUMP
Elsewhere, following Donald Trump’s win over Hillary Clinton to the White House presidency on Wednesday, Erdogan called the Republican winner to congratulate him on his victory.
According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan said he believed bilateral ties with the US would strengthen further in the coming days.
The Turkish President said Turkey and the US were allies that had “mutual respect, mutual profits and shared values.”
Trump and Erdogan also emphasised their determination to cooperate over regional and international issues, particularly counter-terrorism.
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