The government did not ask foreign diplomats accredited to the Republic of Cyprus not to attend a briefing given by Turkish Cypriot negotiator Mehmet Dana, CNA has learned.
The clarification follows reports suggesting the Republic of Cyprus' Ministry of Foreign Affairs had tried to prevent foreign diplomats from attending Dana's briefing on the Turkish Cypriot side's positions on the Cyprus problem. Sources said foreign diplomats were never asked not to attend.
Briefings normally proceed without government involvement
Sources noted that briefings from the Turkish Cypriot side take place without any intervention from the government. In this instance, however, a letter bearing the symbols of the 'pseudo-state' had been sent out, and what was communicated to foreign diplomats was simply to be careful.
Sources said foreign diplomats had informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that they had received this letter bearing the symbols of the 'pseudo-state', and that they were told, as would be communicated to anyone in such a case, to be careful to avoid symbols and any indirect instrumentalisation of the meeting.
Dana's briefing for foreign diplomats took place on 19 August.
Source: CNA
