German AfD lawmaker Maximilian Krah met officials from the Turkish Cypriot Democratic Party, a partner in the administration in the occupied north, as well as representatives of the “Union of Municipalities” on Thursday.
The meetings focused on the Cyprus problem, property cases and what Turkish Cypriot officials described as the community’s continuing international “isolation”.
Party criticises property-related arrests
According to reports from the occupied north, Turkish Cypriot Democratic Party President Fikri Ataoğlu and Secretary-General Serhat Akpınar met Krah.
Akpınar said they told the German lawmaker that the Cyprus settlement process should be assessed within its full historical context and not only on the basis of current circumstances.
“We also reminded him of the Turkish Cypriot side’s willingness to reach a settlement, from the Annan Plan through Crans-Montana and up to the present day, and stressed that the continued isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people is unacceptable,” he said.
Akpınar criticised what he described as the Greek Cypriot side’s approach, pointing to arrests connected with property cases and international barriers affecting “universities” and academics.
He argued that these practices damaged trust and efforts to find a settlement between the two communities.
“Science, sport and art have no nationality and cannot be subject to embargoes,” he said.
Akpınar added that lasting peace could only be established on the basis of mutual respect, equality and justice. He described Krah’s visit as valuable for helping people in Germany and elsewhere in Europe better understand Turkish Cypriot views, overcome their “isolation” and develop what he called a more balanced approach to the Cyprus problem.
Municipal representatives seek German links
Krah also met a delegation from the “Union of Municipalities”, led by Morphou “mayor” Mahmut Özçınar, who also heads the organisation.
Özçınar welcomed the visit, describing it as important for improving understanding within the international community of the problems and obstacles faced by Turkish Cypriots.
He briefed Krah on the organisation’s external relations, saying some Turkish Cypriot “municipalities” participate in the regional branch of United Cities and Local Governments for the Middle East and West Asia, known as UCLG-MEWA. They also maintain town-twinning relationships with member municipalities and local authorities in Turkey.
Özçınar also referred to their participation as Turkish Cypriot “municipalities” in the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and its committee meetings.
According to the organisation’s statement, the discussions covered difficulties arising from the Cyprus problem and the possibility of establishing town-twinning relationships between municipalities in Germany and the Turkish-occupied north.
Source: CNA
