Cyprus Talks: Blame game continues as Akinci blasts the UN special advisor

As the blame game on who walked out of the negotiating table continues to drag on, Turkish Cyprus president, Mustafa Akinci on Friday said the role played by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for Cyprus Espen Barth Eide on the issue has made him raised questions about his trustworthiness after the statements he made regarding the leaders’ meeting on Thursday.

According to Akinci, the meeting had come to a premature end when the Greek Cypriot president Nicos Anastasiades left the negotiating table unexpectedly.

“The UN Envoy described the incident at yesterday’s leaders meeting by editing out all the facts and this has raised questions about his trustworthiness,” said Akinci.

Akinci went further to say that it was Anastasiades who had left the meeting without returning.

“Following his meeting with Anastasiades, Mr Eide gave reporters a date for the next week’s leaders’ meeting as if nothing had happened at the negotiating table. This is unacceptable. We have to address our concerns. Then we will act accordingly,” he added.

According to Akinci, the incident had damaged the climate of the talks, accusing the Greek Cypriot administration of undermining the process by allowing such bill to stand.

Following Akinci's insistence, that Anastasiades was the one who left the negotiating table first, Anastasiades on Friday said he would no longer engage in the ongoing blame-game but instead called on Akinci to come to the next meeting scheduled on Thursday next week.