Cyprus Talks: Tension as leaders abandones meeting

Reports emerging from multiple media outlets in Cyprus on Thursday February 16, initially alleged that Turkish Cypriot president, Mustafa Akinci had walked out of the meeting with counterpart, Greek Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades few minutes after both leaders of the divided island resumed talks at reunifying the island but Mr Akinci has come out to deny the report stating that it was Anastasiades who walked out.

Prior to the meeting between the two leaders, there has been a tensed atmosphere clouding the negotiations process as a result of a vote passed in the Greek Cyprus parliament last week to commemorate a 1950 referendum on Enosis – union with Greece in secondary schools.

Akinci who frowned at the parliaments decision urged Anastasiades to reverse the decision and not put his signature on the bill stating that the bill would undermine efforts to reunite the island under a federal umbrella and also argued that it is unacceptable to describe enosis, which also caused a lot of pain to the Greek Cypriot youth and Cyprus, as “sacred”.

According to Cyprus Weekly, the bill essentially calls for secondary school pupils to honour the anniversary of the 1950 Enosis (union of Cyprus with mainland Greece) Referendum which is already part of the Greek Cyprus history curriculum.

Turkish Cyprus president, has denied that he walked out of Thursday meeting between the two leaders as was reported by the Greek Cypriot press but instead said that it was in fact the Greek Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades who walked out.

According to a report by BRT, Akinci who spoke to reporters following the meeting on Thursday, said that he had explained the reason for the Turkish Cypriot side’s reactions regarding the Greek Cypriot parliament’s decision to commemorate the 1950 Enosis plebiscite at schools in South Cyprus.

“Once we exchanged our views on the issue, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser tried to wrap up the discussion, stating that the steps were required to address the Turkish Cypriot side. The Greek Cypriot leader angrily stated that he had nothing else to say.”

Akinci also went on to state an instance where Anastasiades had lost his temper in the past.

“We have had instances in the past when Mr. Anastasiades lost his temper. But no matter what our differences are, we have always maintained our respect. Under the current circumstances it was not possible to ignore his actions”, he said.