Worrying statements by Osman Ertug on the negotiations procedure

Statement by Georgos Loucaides, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson 

4th April 2014, Nicosia

The latest statement made by the former Turkish Cypriot negotiator Mr. Osman Ertug is particularly worrying. The positions expressed by Mr. Ertug, although he believes that comments and statements which affect the negotiation procedure must be avoided, anything but respect this simple truth.

Mr. Ertug’s unacceptable statements should cause reflection on what will follow. The process of registering each side’s position will be completed soon and its result is predetermined. At the end of this phase it will be ascertained that the gap between the positions of the two sides will have grown considerably.

How shall we subsequently proceed? This is a question that we must answer collectively. Primarily, however, it should be answered by all those who do not agree with the continuation of the negotiation process from where it had left off. That is, the convergences should be reconfirmed and the key pending issues should be discussed, as the Joint Communique itself provides for.