Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (11.11.13) reports that according to Turkish Haber Turk newspaper, Turkey has prepared a Plan B for Cyprus in case there is no solution within the framework of the UN parameters in the negotiations. The paper writes that the foundation of the plan is “to go outside the UN parameters and to concentrate on the two-state formula with the mentality that solution is born from the non-solution”.
The source of the information for the news, which is signed by Bahar Bakir, is in Ankara, notes Halkin Sesi pointing out that according to the “new mentality”, the options for one and two states in Cyprus will be negotiated. “The approach that solution will come out from the non-solution will come forward in Ankara’s new policy”, reports the paper adding that Ankara thinks that the parameters on the island changed with the natural gas found in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone and the water which Turkey plans to transfer to the occupied northern part of Cyprus with pipelines.
Ankara, continues the paper, is making the assessment that the Greek Cypriots, [Translator’s note: as the Republic of Cyprus is described] will not be able to extract the natural gas and if they attempt to extract and use it, “a new partnership agreement with the TRNC [Translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus] or discussing the two states will be needed”. The paper reports that Ankara argues that Turkey is the only realistic alternative for transporting the gas to the world.