Serdar Denktaş: "There Was No Need to Go to Geneva for These Discussions"

"There was no need to go to Geneva for these issues. These were matters we could have discussed here," Denktaş stated, emphasizing that topics such as the opening of new border crossings had already been under discussion for a long time and that mine clearance efforts had been undertaken during Mehmet Ali Talat’s tenure. He expressed little expectation from the meeting but acknowledged that "despite everything, it is still the beginning of a process."

Denktaş stressed that the concept of "cooperation" holds significance only if it is approached sincerely. He argued that instead of political maneuvering, efforts should be made to open pathways for collaboration that would appeal to the Greek Cypriot public, traders, and business community.

"If there had been prior coordination and a common understanding before these talks, and if we had gone to Geneva not with a stance against the Greek Cypriot side but with certain proposals aimed at the UN, we might have gained momentum," Denktaş said. However, he criticized the approach taken in Geneva, stating, "On one hand, a delegation was conducting discussions, while on the other, a separate group was making different statements to both the UN and the media. It is clear that we cannot make progress this way. We can continue debating our internal issues, but we must find common ground and present a unified stance on the Cyprus issue."