“The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus does not consent to the involvement of the European Union in any negotiation process” Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu said on Thursday.

His words came in response to remarks made by the new Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos.

Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu on Thursday slammed remarks made by the new Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos regarding the European Union’s “active involvement” in the resolution process of the Cyprus issue.

In his statement, Ertuğruloğlu stated that Kombos’ statement expressing the view that the EU should take on a more active role in the resolution process of the Cyprus issue was unfortunate.

He reminded his Greek Cypriot counterpart that there was no solution process on the Cyprus issue and that, a new negotiation process between the two states could only begin as and when the TRNC’s realistic vision on the Cyprus issue is accepted.

“The European Union, which fails to fulfil any of its promises to the Turkish Cypriot people and supports the Greek side unconditionally, cannot be expected to participate in a possible negotiation process. Due to the nature of the negotiations, the consent of the parties is of vital importance in the decisions to be taken. The TRNC does not consent to the involvement of the European Union in any negotiation process, since the European Union is not and cannot be an impartial party to any such process” said Ertuğruloğlu.