"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" - Turkey rejects 'new government may affect Cyprus talks.'

"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" - Turkey rejects 'new government may affect Cyprus talks.' (Taz).

Turkey has rejected Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades' recent remarks that a new Turkish government may “directly affect” the negotiation talks over the divided island of Cyprus, Anadolu reported.

"We are astounded by the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades' remarks in Turkish media which attempt to relate the negotiation process towards finding a comprehensive solution for the island with the formation of a (new) government in our country," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday.

"The Greek Cypriot leader must first and foremost make well use of the current [window of] opportunity to find a solution to the Cyprus issue, and focus his efforts on concluding the negotiations held with Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci within the framework of the goodwill mission of the UN general-secretary," the statement read.

"We consider this attempt to question Turkey's commitment to finding a fair, permanent and viable solution to the Cyprus issue an intentional tactical maneuver," the statement said, adding that Turkey would continue to duly perform its international commitments as it always had, and keep contributing to efforts towards resolving the Cyprus issue "at the earliest," and "making the island and East Mediterranean a region of peace, stability and cooperation."

In an interview with Turkish daily Hurriyet Friday, Anastasiades said that "depending on who is going to form the coalition government in Turkey, or whether there is going to be a new election, I think the situation will affect Cyprus”.

The northern area of Cyprus is currently under illegal occupation since the Turkish invasion of 1974.