Behind-the-scenes Talks Critical at Cyprus Summit

Erdogan once again proposed the Serbia-Montenegro model that he had recently put on the agenda, but Denktas replied that every country’s situation was different and said that this proposal would not produce the desired result. While the talks could not be called tense, Denktas’s jokes lightened the heavy atmosphere a bit.

When Denktas made reference to former TRNC Foreign Minister Sabri Caglayangil, Erdogan said that his words, which had recently caused tension, had been misunderstood. Ribbing the bureaucrats who were present at the meeting, Denktas said, "One can’t believe everything you say."

Erdogan refrained from making any stern public rebukes, but he reportedly promoted his insistence on a solution to the island’s problems. In a long address to the gathering Denktas talked about the struggle in Cyprus that had been ongoing since the 1960s. He also underlined the sensitivities of the balances on the island.

Edip Ali Yavuz / Lefkosa