Özersay comments on Akıncı’s remarks

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said that the political tensions that erupted between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as a result of President Mustafa Akıncı’s remarks on Turkey’s military operation in Syria was not good for the country.

Speaking to BRT, Özersay said that such tensions caused division and polarisation within society.

“This is not something we desire. Everyone must use their energy for the benefit of the country,” he said.

Özersay added that everyone in the state’s administration could be criticized but that a very different atmosphere emerged when the president was criticized.

“You can criticize ministers or even the prime minister of a country. This is very natural. We can also be criticized for the steps we take or the ones we don’t. The same applies to the president but when the president is criticised a very different atmosphere emerges,” Özersay pointed out.

He said what was important was not to tarnish or hurt the post of the presidency when making such criticisms.

The TRNC Foreign Minister pointed out that the issue had reached a point where a certain segment in Turkey had started insulting Turkish Cypriots.

“That is unacceptable,” he added.

“We have relations with one state and we cannot carry out that relationship in a healthy manner,” Özersay said, adding that President Akıncı had stated that his statement had been misunderstood.

“His statement was open to misunderstanding. The President should have been clear in his statements on a sensitive, emotional and hot topic. He should have refrained from making vague comments,” he added.

Foreign Minister Özersay recalled that Akıncı had expressed support to the previous Afrin Operation.

“He might not have wanted to express support this time but a majority of Turkish Cypriots would have wanted to see him support this operation as well,” Özersay added.

He also pointed out that Akıncı’s argument in favour of dialogue and diplomacy was no longer valid as Turkey had exhausted both methods before launching such an operation.