Metin Feyzioğlu responds to Özgür Özel: We couldn't reach everyone, and we still can't

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, during the 50th anniversary events of theCyprus Peace Operation, stated that he would report his discomfort to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the fact that no welcome was provided by Turkey's Nicosia Ambassador Metin Feyzioğlu and embassy officials. He also added that Feyzioğlu had not been able to handle the position because he did not come from a career diplomatic background. 

Metin Feyzioğlu spoke about the matter to Halk TVreporter İWhile answering questions from İsmail Saymaz, he stated that meeting guests was not their duty, and regarding the reception, he said he did not see Özgür Özel because he was occupied with Erdoğan and cabinet members.The questions posed by İsmail Saymaz to Feyzioğlu and his responses are as follows:

"Özel is complaining about you, saying, 'He didn't meet us. We will report him to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.' 

He can do that.

I wanted to ask you about this.

It has a very simple answer. Neither I nor our embassy met any political party. The TRNC Assembly met all the parties. As an embassy, we couldn't keep up with everyone, and we still can't. The TRNC Assembly invited all parties coming from Turkey without exception. They are their guests. We met the delegations sent by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) without making any party distinctions.

Was there a division of labor?

No, it is a matter of protocol. The host of the event is the TRNC Assembly. They are the ones who invited the parties. Therefore, the responsibility for welcoming them lies with the host.

Of course. There were CHP members in the Turkish Grand National Assembly delegations, as well as Good Party members; they were all there. Meanwhile, we are also welcoming veterans. Former and current ministers are arriving. Our friends slept and woke up at Ercan Airport, myself included.

Özel says the following: 'We did not see any officials from the embassy at the airport or throughout the two days.'

This is also incorrect. Our First Counselor asks Namık Tan at the reception, 'Do you have any needs, is there anything we can do?' He says, 'No, we don't have any needs, thank you.' Previously, when they said, 'We will bring the veterans,' a deputy chairman had called, and when asked, 'Do you want support?' they said, 'No, we are doing everything ourselves.' None of these are true.

Let me quote Özel's statement exactly: 'We did not see the ambassador or anyone from the embassy at the airport. They didn't even ask how we were doing anywhere.' If I had seen Özgür Özel, I would have asked how he was. I couldn't get together with Özel. I didn't even see him. Why? Because imagine the environment yesterday. The entire cabinet is here, the president is here, over 80 members of parliament are here. We are dealing with the protocol affairs of all of them. We are struggling to ensure no protocol scandal occurs. Also, I saw Hikmet Çetin at the reception. I said, 'Do you have any orders?' I spoke with Murat Karayalçın. I asked every CHP member I saw and knew how they were and said, 'Is there anything we can do?'

Was Özel also at the reception?

He was, but I didn't even see him.

You saw the others, but you didn't see him.

I didn't see him because I saw Çetin while I was seeing off the minister. I said, 'Is there anything I can do, I hadn't seen you, you honored us.' We met with Karayalçın in the parliament garden. They are all witnesses.

Özel criticized you as follows: 'This is a result of not coming from the profession and not being able to digest the position one has attained.'

That could be said to him as well, but I will not engage in polemics.

He said he would report you to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Please, he is welcome to do so, sir, there is no problem at all.

Who did you meet?

We met the plane arriving from the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), the three presidential planes, ministers, and our former parliamentary speakers. We left the parties to the protocol of the TRNC Assembly. We are working with five people.

Since it is the main opposition party... You were once a member yourself.

What difference does that make, sir? I am not the one who cannot digest it. He is attacking because I once engaged in politics. For God's sake, let these things go. Do not make me talk.

I believe that diplomatically, it is expected and necessary for Özel to be called by you.

If you had seen the protocol and the intensity of the work we have been doing for the last week, even for just 10 minutes, you would think differently.

You didn't find the time.

It is not that we didn't find the time. The Assembly took on all of it. They even arranged the arrival times through the Assembly. There is no issue they requested from us. Despite this, whoever I saw; I ran into Müsavat Bey (Dervişoğlu) at the airport. When I went to meet the Minister of National Defense and his delegation, I said, 'Welcome' and 'Congratulations on your chairmanship. Is there anything we can do?' That is all. I didn't meet him either. We could not get involved in the business of meeting parties. It was not possible for us to do so. If a party visited once a month, every six months, or once a year, we would run and meet them. I do not find it right for people to say these things when they know what kind of extraordinary situation this is. They want to drag us into politics."