Turkey must show it means business on Cyprus talks, President Anastasiades says
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has said that the time has come for Turkey to show whether it means its rhetoric on wanting a solution of the Cyprus problem or whether, the parties would travel to Geneva for a Conference on Cyprus, merely to have an excursion.
In statements after a luncheon in Limassol, President Anastasiades was asked what to expect after the recent effort in the Cyprus talks where it was not possible for through shuttle diplomacy for “common ground` to be found between himself and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.
“We should maintain a position based on principles, if we truly want progress in the negotiations,” he pointed out.
I have repeatedly said that we have been discussing the same issues for 44 years now, he noted, adding that “the time for truth is here.”
“Does Turkey mean what it says, or are we simply going to travel to Geneva to have an excursion?”, he wondered.
At the same time he assured that “I mean what I say. I mean that we must finally deal with the substance of the all the chapters, so that during a conference we can achieve what the Cypriot people as a whole wants: a solution of the Cyprus problem which will establish a new state of affairs and which will be able to function and last, which will guarantee stability, future and prospects for all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.”
Procedural objections are just excuses, he added.
The dialogue, President Anastasiades recalled, has been ongoing for 44 years and more recently since Akinci became the Turkish Cypriot leader for over two years. We have exhausted all aspects on the four chapters.
Therefore, he added, we are left with the chapters of security, guarantees and the withdrawal of troops and “if Turkey meant what it says then of course it should accept, always given the principle that nothing can be considered to be agreed if everything is not agreed upon.”
He continued to say that our good faith has been proven on the negotiating table and even through the proposal we have put forward. Therefore, he said, “the time of truth has come: Who truly wishes and seeks a solution which is in the interest of Cypriots and not in the interest of third parties.”
At the same time he rejected statements by AKEL Secretary General Andros Kyprianou that he does not comprehend that these developments might be catastrophic for our side expressing his sorrow because, as he said, despite his past supportive of the talks attitude Kyprianou has changed because of the presidential elections, expected to be held in February 2018.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN backed talks have been underway since May 2015 aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof.
CNA/EK/EPH/EC/2017
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY