US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will set a visit to Cyprus, but will only meet with the Greek Cypriot side. The justification is quite funny: "We will only be able to meet with the Greeks due to the lack of time." This decision was notified to the Turkish side by phone.
He stated that he can make a phone call with Akıncı
TRNC Presidency Spokesperson Barış Burcu stated that the US Ambassador Judith Garber, who is accredited to the Greek Cypriot Administration, called TRNC President Mustafa Akıncı by phone and that the US Secretary of State Pompeo would make a “short” visit to Cyprus due to the time shortage. stated. In the statement, which stated that the US Embassy contacted the Presidency again shortly after the phone call, it was stated that Pompeo could make a phone call with Akıncı during his stay in Cyprus due to the time limitation.
"This attitude of the USA means encouragement for the Greek side"
In the statement made by the TRNC, the US President did not find it right to suggest a phone call to the Turkish Cypriot side, which is a very short distance from an important US official who will come to Nicosia and meet with the Greek leader, instead of coming as US Secretary of State John Kerry did. transferred to the ambassador. It was stated that the problems in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean cannot be helped only by meeting with the Greek side and obtaining unilateral information, and emphasized that this attitude of the USA would mean a negative encouragement for the Greek side.
The Presidency of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) stated that "it is not possible to adopt this attitude", reacting to the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who stated that he will only meet with Greek officials during his visit to Cyprus. TRNC Presidency Spokesperson Barış Burcu said in a written statement that the US Ambassador to the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC) accredited Ambassador Judith Garber called TRNC President Mustafa Akıncı by phone and the US Secretary of State Pompeo will pay a short visit to Cyprus. stated that it conveyed.
"There is no change in the US position," Garber said.
In the statement, Garber stated that Pompeo could only contact the Greek Cypriot leadership during this visit due to the lack of time, and that this attitude was not misunderstood and that there was no change in the US position, “Upon this, our President Mustafa Akıncı told the US Ambassador, stated that he saw it as a negative development and that it was not possible to adopt this attitude. statement was included. President Akıncı reminded that Pompeo was envisaged to meet with him by passing to the Turkish Cypriot side in the Cyprus visit program, which was planned for a while and later canceled, He emphasized that giving up is a serious mistake.
Kerry, former Secretary of State, did the same
The statement said, “It was conveyed to the US Ambassador that our President did not approve of a prominent US official who will come to Nicosia and meet with the Greek leader, instead of coming to the Turkish Cypriot side, which is a very short distance from the Turkish Cypriot side, as US Secretary of State John Kerry did. . The US Ambassador was once again stated that Pompeo's meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, like Kerry, one of his predecessor Foreign Ministers, would be the right attitude and that the telephone conversation was not sufficient and appropriate. " statements took place.
"This attitude of the USA is a negative encouragement for the Greek side"
Spokesperson Burcu said: "Our President stated that the problems in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean cannot be helped only by meeting with the Greek side and obtaining unilateral information, and emphasized that this attitude of the USA would mean a negative encouragement for the Greek side. Stating that this is a serious mistake for the American diplomacy that claims to help the solution of the problems and that it is a serious mistake and deficiency not to meet with the Turkish Cypriot side, which is the equal partner of Cyprus, our President clearly stated to the Ambassador that the Turkish Cypriot people cannot accept this attitude of the USA. conveyed. " In the statement, which stated that the US Embassy contacted the Presidency again shortly after the phone call, it was stated that Pompeo could make a phone call with Akıncı during his stay in Cyprus due to the time limitation.