‘TRNC’ flag placement at DiCarlo meeting an ‘unfortunate moment’, Letymbiotis says

The placement of the flag of the ‘TRNC’ on the table at a meeting of Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman and United Nations undersecretary-general for peacebuilding Rosemary DiCarlo was an “unfortunate moment”, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Tuesday.

He told reporters that “from the very beginning, demarches were made through are permanent mission to the UN and in Nicosia”.

“From the very beginning, we have made strong representations, both in Cyprus and in New York, at the permanent representation of the Republic of Cyprus, and for this reason, we have seen yesterday the corresponding response,” he said.

He added that the placement of the flag had “even violated the UN security council’s resolutions” and that following a comment on the matter from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric late on Monday night, it “has been dissociated from the secretary-general himself”.

Dujarric had been asked about the flag’s placement, saying that “the photograph which was released reflects the layout of the meeting space”.

“Let us be clear. This does not signal any change in the UN’s position on the Cyprus issue. Our position continues to be guided by the relevant security council resolutions. The UN continues to support efforts for a comprehensive and sustainable settlement on the island, within the established framework,” he said.

The flags of the UN and of the ‘TRNC’ appeared intertwined at the table at which Erhurman and DiCarlo were sat when they met in the Turkish coastal city of Antalya on Saturday.

Typically, the UN flag is only placed beside national flags of UN member states when heads of state meet secretaries-general.

Erhurman’s office described the meeting as “productive” and said that the pair had discussed confidence-building measures devised between Cyprus’ two sides and “the latest situation regarding the Cyprus problem”.