‘No need to try anything except the two state solution’ – Turkish VP

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said on Thursday that there are two separate states in Cyprus and there is no need to try things that had been tried repeatedly.

Opening the largest mosque in the north, Yilmaz said: “There are two sovereign independent states [in Cyprus], and everything that will be discussed from now on must be discussed and negotiated between these two states. If you are looking for a solution, this is the solution.”

Yilmaz opened the new largest mosque, the Dr Suat Gunsel mosque, on the outskirts of Nicosia in the north, on the Near East University’s campus.

Commenting further at the mosque’s opening ceremony, he said “it is all of our responsibility to transfer the values, cultural richness, and common historical heritage of the Turkish Cypriots for future generations.”

He also called on Turkish Cypriot businessmen both in Cyprus and abroad to “contribute more with their social responsibility efforts”.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar spoke about the work being carried out by the Bicommunal technical committees to maintain places of religious worship.

“While we have continued our prayers in more than 200 mosques and masjids in the TRNC, we do not forget what we left behind in South Cyprus. The sound of the call to prayer has continued permanently on this island since 1571,” he said.

Later in the day, Yilmaz is set to visit the Gunsel electric car factory and the Nicosia Science Centre.

In the afternoon, he is set to pay a visit to the village of Acheritou, which is situated between Famagusta and Avgorou, and next to the Ayios Nikolaos British military station.

He will be joined in Cyprus by Turkish Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir. Kacir will also hold a meeting with the north’s ‘economy minister’ Olgun Amcaoglu.

Meanwhile, it emerged on Wednesday Ahmet Sanver is set to sue the Gunsel family, saying that part of the complex has been built on his land.

Specifically, he claims the mosque’s car park has been built on land belonging to him, and he and his family did not give permission for the construction.

“Our land has been occupied. We are referring the Gunsels first to God, and then to the courts,” he said.