President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) H.E. Mustafa Akıncı delivered a keynote speech at the conference entitled “The Future of Cyprus Talks and Implications for Turkey in Light of Current Developments” which was co-organised by IKV and TOBB on 14 September 2017.

The opening speeches of the conference were delivered by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu and Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) President Fikri Toros. The latest developments in the UN-sponsored Cyprus reunification talks and the stalemate in the Cyprus Conference in Crans-Montana along with possible scenarios for the future of the process were the main items on the agenda.

IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu began his opening speech by stating that the Cyprus question has been among the priority topics among the foundation’s research areas and that the IKV under his chairmanship has been consistently raising the issue with their European interlocutors. IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu underscored that the non-resolution of the Cyprus question has been used against Turkey’s EU membership bid. Zeytinoğlu stated that the EU’s move to admit a divided island with the Greek Cypriot Administration as its sole representative was a huge strategic mistake which not only perpetuated the division of the island, but also inevitably made the EU party to the problem. Recalling that the opening of 14 chapters and the provisional closure of all chapters in Turkey’s EU accession talks have been blocked either by the Council or the Greek Cypriot Administration due to the Cyprus question, IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu indicated that the Cyprus question stands as the number one reason for the lack of progress in Turkey’s EU accession negotiations which have been going on since 2005. IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu elaborated that this situation greatly reduced the effectiveness of the accession process which should have constituted the backbone of Turkey-EU relations and harmed EU’s vital interests in areas such as energy and foreign, security and defence policy due to the related chapters being blocked.

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu stated that in July breaths were held once again for a settlement in Cyprus, despite the constructive attitude of the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey, however the Conference on Cyprus in Crans-Montana concluded without an agreement due to the intransigence of the Greek Cypriot side.

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu highlighted that it was crucial for the TRNC to develop sound economic and trade relations with the rest of the world and that the Turkish business community holds significant responsibility in increasing investments in the TRNC. Finally, IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu called on the international community to take concrete steps to put an end to the unlawful and unacceptable isolation to which the Turkish Cypriots are being subjected.

In his opening speech, KTTO President Fikri Toros spoke about the Conference on Cyprus which took place between 28 June and 7 July 2017 and the state of the Turkish Cypriot economy. Toros underscored that a political settlement to the Cyprus question was urgently needed not only for ensuring the security, stability and prosperity of the two communities on the island but also for overcoming regional problems. Stating that historic steps were taken in an attempt to resolve the 53 year-long Cyprus question, Toros expressed his regret that the initiatives failed to result in a political agreement.

Indicating that what needs to be done in case of a solution and non-solution largely overlap, Toros emphasized that as the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce they will prioritize reforms, an economy-focused political vision, strengthening bilateral economic, social and political links with turkey and being productive. Recalling that the Turkish Cypriots have been isolated from the international community for the last 54 years and that their only source of protection and security has been Turkey, KTTO President Toros underscored the importance of further reforms which focus on economic development which would play a significant role furthering trade relations between the Turkish Cypriot community and the neighbouring countries. As such, he pinpointed that great importance will be attributed in further aligning the Turkish Cypriot economy with the EU acquis in the upcoming period.

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu followed KTTO President Fikri Toros in delivering his opening remarks. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu started his speech by noting that the TRNC represents an important partner for Turkey in terms of trade, tourism, education and investments and referred to the strong historical, cultural and economic bonds between Turkey and the TRNC. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed his belief that the potential to make the bilateral economic bonds was present.

Stressing that as the Turkish business community, they wanted the Turkish Cypriots to become more prosperous, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu indicated that the unlawful isolation the Turkish Cypriots have been subjected to hampered this. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu continued his remarks by stressing the importance of economic reforms in increasing investments and that the support of the business community was of critical importance in the settlement process.

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that as the Turkish business community they would stand by the Turkish Cypriots and would continue to support a fair and lasting settlement in Cyprus as they have always done.

Stating that foreign direct investment was vital for economic development, TOBB President underscored the importance of creating a positive investment climate and recalled that in 2011, TOBB together with the KTTO had proposed the creation of Investment Consultation Council. TOBB President referred to the Nicosia Economic Forum which was initiated in June 2014 as a platform to demonstrate the business community’s support for the settlement talks.

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed that the two flagship sectors which offer the greatest potential for the Turkish Cypriot economy were tourism and education. As such, Hisarcıklıoğlu added that higher education has provided significant contributions to the TRNC economy. Lastly, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu completed his remarks by indicating that as the business community, they wished to realise further investments in the TRNC and contribute in making Cyprus an island of peace and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Following the opening speeches, TRNC President H.E. Mustafa Akıncı addressed the audience. H.E. President Akıncı began his keynote speech by referring to the turning points and the missed opportunities in the history of the 50 year-long Cyprus talks. President Akıncı stated that recently an important opportunity had been missed in Crans-Montana. Elaborating on the last two years of the Cyprus talks in which he represented the Turkish Cypriot community in the talks, President Akıncı stated since September 2016 that they were confronted with a Greek Cypriot leadership which was unwilling to compromise and far away from a realistic and credible position.

TRNC President Akıncı stated that it was thanks to the solution-oriented and relentless efforts of the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey’s support that the process had reached the five-party conference stage while the Greek Cypriot side together with Greece dragged their feet. President Akıncı stated that despite their flexible yet principled approach in the context of security and guarantees, and their readiness to adopt the 1960 treaties to the current context, the Greek Cypriot side had maintained its maximalist demands and had insisted on “zero troops and zero guarantees” which was now being used as an election slogan.

President Akıncı continued his remarks by referring to the benefits that a mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus question could have brought. Akıncı stated that undoubtedly a prospective settlement would have reflected positively on the relations between Turkey and Greece as well as on Turkey and the EU; however a solution was rendered impossible due to the unwillingness of the Greek Cypriot leadership and the fact that the Greek Cypriot community was not prepared for a settlement based on power-sharing.

Akıncı indicated that the Turkish Cypriot side had no intention to engage in an open-ended process which would take another 50 years. Noting that the need to resolve the Cyprus question was still there, Akıncı stated that a settlement would not be possible without a transformation in the mentality of the Greek Cypriot side. Referring to the 2018 elections in the south, Akıncı indicated that the election period was crucial for the Greek Cypriots to contemplate on what they really wanted for the future.

Noting that the TRNC would continue to favour a solution-oriented policy, President Akıncı argued that it would not be realistic expect any positive developments in the talks till the completion of the election period in the south and added that the situation would need to be re-evaluated based on the election results.

In his speech, TRNC President Akıncı also referred to the objective of EU membership as one of the many common denominators between Turkey and the TRNC. Akıncı stated that he did not consider the prospect of EU membership to be a platonic dream, but rather a necessity for the pursuit of a better life in various areas ranging from food safety to democracy.

Furthermore, TRNC President Akıncı emphasized the importance they attribute to the continuation of Turkey’s EU membership objective and stated that the EU should adopt a more constructive stance vis-à-vis Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots. Akıncı underlined the need for both sides to make further efforts to try to reach these objectives and set the conditions needed for it. At this point, TRNC President Akıncı underscored that it was of utmost importance for the TRNC to complete much-needed reforms in a variety of areas, further develop its external relations, take steps for the removal of the unfair embargoes it was subjected to and improve its investment climate.