The Office of the President has criticized the rejection of an invitation extended by TRNC officials to the British Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle who only held contacts in South Cyprus.

A statement issued by the president’s office on Wednesday said that it was unacceptable for Britain, as a guarantor country, to ignore the equality of the Turkish Cypriot side.

Reminding that President Ersin Tatar as well as a number of civil society organisations in the TRNC had invited Sir Lindsay Hoyle to the north for meetings; the Office of the President said that the rejection of these invitations by the visiting British official had created great disappointment.

“Whilst the United Kingdom is obliged to treat equally the two sides which have inherent rights in Cyprus, ignoring the equal rights of the Turkish Cypriot side is not acceptable.  Refusing to acknowledge the equal voice and inherent sovereign equality of the two sides, rather than helping to enhance cooperation, security and stability that is needed on the island of Cyprus and the region, only serves to perpetuate the status quo which is unsustainable,” the statement read.

It said that the UK, if sincere in its statements in favour of a fair, realistic and sustainable settlement in Cyprus, should adopt an approach that observes the principle of absolute equality of the two sides in its dialogue and contacts.