Turkish FM criticizes Greek proposal for Cyprus

By Fatih Erel

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday there has not been much progress in the Cyprus talks in the Swiss Alps and criticized proposals by Greek Cypriots for reunification.

"Tomorrow, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will be here and unfortunately, there is not much progress so far," Cavusoglu told reporters after meetings here with representatives from the EU, Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides and two guarantor nations, Greece and the U.K.

"We will see the picture after meeting with the secretary general and find out whether there will be results from the talks as there is no point of wasting time," he added.

Noting the proposals from Greek Cypriots for a solution are not “serious”, Cavusoglu said "if it was a serious proposals, it would be shared with us before it was shared with press.

"it was leaked to the press. first of all, leaking it to the press before sharing is not a serious manner, it is dishonest," he said.

"When you read it, nothing is new,” he said of its content.

Guterres will return to the talks in an attemtp to speed up the reunification process.

On Tuesday, Cavusoglu criticized Greek Cypriots for not showing "good intentions and flexibility" in the talks.

"If there is to be a solution, we should decide this week, because this is the last conference," Cavusoglu said at the time.

"We have shown good intentions and flexibility but, this should get a response. Unfortunately, we could not see any positive response from the other side. We also saw that some confidential documents were leaked despite promises," Cavusoglu said.

Cavusoglu had said Ankara could not accept “zero troops” in Cyprus.

Guterres left the Swiss resort Saturday after participating in the Cyprus conference a day earlier, along with Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders as well as guarantor nationsTurkey, Greece and Britain.

The latest round of Cyprus talks in Crans-Montana began June 28.

On Monday, the UN received proposals from both sides as well as from Turkey, Greece and the U.K.

The UN is seeking a peace deal to unite Cyprus under a federal umbrella that could also define the future of Europe's relations with Turkey, a key player in the conflict.

The Eastern Mediterranean island has been divided since 1974, when a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by violence against the island's Turks, and Ankara's intervention as a guarantor power.