FM Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu insists on agreement with UN

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu said that they are determined that it is irrevocable that the United Nations Peace Keeping Force (UNFICYP) in Cyprus signs an agreement with the Turkish Cypriot side to maintain its existence and activities in North Cyprus. Criticizing the UN's stance, Ertuğruloğlu said that if the UN continues to remain disconnected from the realities on the island and if an agreement is not reached, as stated previously, we will have no choice but to review all the options and take the necessary steps. Ertuğruloğlu issued a statement regarding the letter sent by Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Yoannis Kasulidis to ambassadors in South Cyprus that they will not accept a possible agreement between the United Nations (UN) and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. FM Ertuğruloğlu who referred to Kasoulides' statements that they will not accept a possible agreement between the UN and the TRNC, Ertuğruloğlu said that there is no value in whether or not decisions on our foreign policy and decisions regarding our country are accepted by the Greek Cypriot administration. He said that the United Nations Peace Keeping Force will only be able to maintain its existence and activities in our territory by concluding a legal regulation that can be accepted between the two parties. It has been recorded that the TRNC on many occasions has approached the UN Peace Keeping Force and all UN institutions; especially in the UN Secretariat in writing and verbally that an agreement is needed for it to carry out its activities in our country within the framework of the goodwill of our state. Ertuğruloğlu pointed to the importance of the UN reaching an agreement with the TRNC without wasting time. We would like to repeat that we are in an irreversible determination on this issue. Our Ministry continues to act constructively for an agreement between the TRNC and the UN. If the UN continues with a disconnected approach from the facts on the island despite our sincere and constructive stance it is not possible to reach an agreement, we will have no choice but to review all the options and take the necessary steps, FM Ertuğruloğlu said.