We support the statement made by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus regarding the press statement of the Security Council following the briefing delivered by Alvaro De Soto, UNSG’s Special Envoy to Cyprus, concerning the recent contacts in Cyprus.

The assessment of Turkey is that in order to ensure a breakthrough in the attempts to initiate a new process of negotiations within the framework of the Good Offices Mission of the UNSG, it would be useful to concentrate the efforts on the establishment of a common ground. In light of the past experiences, Turkey is of the view that success of the new process would depend, first and foremost, on the realization of a sufficient ground. In this context, it also becomes important for the UNSG’s Special Envoy to display an attitude respecting the basic principles of the good offices mission in conducting his work.

Turkey believes that a comprehensive and viable settlement in the Island can be reached through negotiations to be carried out on a common ground based on the realities of the Island.