Cyprus Talks: Greek Cypriot side phobic about timetables: Akinci

Cyrus: Turkish Republic of North Cyprus TRNC President Mustafa Akinci has restated that a road map for the solution of the Cyprus problem should now be defined. In statements to Turkish NTV, on Tuesday, Akinci said that “usually the Greek Cypriot side does not want to refer to timetables and time periods” and “we can say that it has a kind of a phobia for timetables”.

When asked if they are about to enter into a five-party conference process with the participation of Turkey and Greece, in the ongoing talks,  Akinci replied that;

“this is actually the point at which we stand”.

Akinci noted that a “natural timetable” has come into play with a five-party conference, the last item on the timetable.

“A more intensified negotiation is expected in October in Cyprus. Afterwards it is inevitable for us to move to a different format and in the end to go to a five-party summit. If our commitment to the target of 2016 continues, as has been expressed in recent statements, we can predict that the five-party conference will definitely take place before the end of 2016”, Akinci said.

Questioned whether there will be a procedure similar to the one at Camp David, where the two leaders will be holding a face to face discussions alone on issues such as property and territory, Akinci replied that in October, outstanding issues which remain unresolved in the first four chapters should be concluded.

“What we mean as the Turkish side when we refer to a process like the one at Camp David is that Cyprus is a small place and the content of discussions leak within a short period of time. These leaks become sensational front page news in the papers the next day. We want to create an environment outside Cyprus where a series of meetings will take place on sensitive issues which concern the territory in Cyprus. And right afterwards we want there to be a five-party conference. And we want all these to happen within the next one to two months” he added.

In response to another question, Akinci said that Turkey has been supporting the negotiations from the beginning of the process and expressed the confidence that on the issue of security and guarantees, a formula could be created which will protect the Turkish Cypriot people, but will not constitute a threat to the Greek Cypriots people.

In reference to the issue of natural gas, Akinci said that there were two choices: natural gas will either become a new source of tensions in the region or will be turned into a bridge of peace and cooperation.

Akinci noted that the hydrocarbon resources in the Eastern Mediterranean was important in the aspect that it can open the door to cooperation between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots and also among other countries in the region.

Akinci also reiterated the view that the Cypriot and Israeli natural gas should be transferred to Europe through Turkey.

Akinci noted that a federal settlement in Cyprus will never be possible to achieve if all efforts to reach a solution by the end of this year fail adding that the next three months are “of vital importance”, and that this period “should not be wasted”.

“The Greek Cypriot side has an inexplicable fear of timetables. They do not want to discuss it. This phobia dates back to the Annan Plan and is unfounded. We made it clear that we were ready to establish a timetable. So once again the Turkish Cypriot side’s determination and commitment towards a solution was demonstrated in front of the UN community” he said.

Source: LGC News