THE incident caused consternation on the Turkish Cypriot side with all of the media in the north splashing the story on their front pages on Thursday.
Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay condemned what happened, saying that “with this kind of thinking in the 21st century we are not getting anywhere”.
Ozersay said that he contacted Talat on Wednesday night but wasn’t able to get through to the Greek Cypriot side. In a statement on social media Ozersay said “a very serious struggle should be launched against this kind of mentality”.
Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu issued a written statement condemning ELAM’s behaviour and arguing that “the animosity, which some parts of the Greek Cypriot community still feel towards the Turkish Cypriots and reaches the point of violence, is regrettable and unacceptable”.
Eroglu described as “saddening and thought provoking” the fact that the police did not take the necessary measures. He described as “worrying” the fact that “such violent incidents” happen especially in a period during which the Cyprus negotiations were reaching a critical point and when measures to overcome the lack of confidence between the two sides was on the agenda. He said that he was expecting from the Greek Cypriot side to take the necessary measures so that such incidents were not repeated in the future.
Kibris columnist, Hasan Hasturer, who was participating in the conference, said it was not possible to underestimate the incident, but it would be wrong to overestimate it.
He says ELAM was a threat to both the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots and that the behaviour of the Greek Cypriots who were in the conference room was very positive. “No one left the room. The Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots who were there exhibited silent resistance. The conference was not left half-finished. This would be tantamount to surrendering to the fascists… After the conference, when the preparation for the departure was continuing, the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades called and expressed his sorrow to Mehmet Ali Talat for what had happened. The important thing was that Anastasiades said that the insufficient police measures and the passive behaviour of the police would be investigated and that what was necessary would be done…”
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