Turkey’s intransigent stance responsible for failed talks - Nicos Anastasiades

Greek Cypriot president, Nicos Anastasiades has blamed Turkey’s intransigent stance and its persistence on the continuation of the guarantees system and the maintenance of Turkish troops in Cyprus, as the reason for the failed Cyprus reunification talks in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.

Speaking at an event on Sunday, Anastasiades said the Greek Cypriot side had made every effort to achieve a solution of the Cyprus problem during the talks.

According to him, unfortunately, despite the efforts, Turkey, once more, maintained the same stance it holds for 43 years now, regardless of who would be the President, or which would be the policy of the Greek Cypriot side reports the Cyprus Mail.

Anastasiades noted that progress was achieved and hopes were high, and in the end it was ascertained that the main reason for the non-achievement of a solution was no other than the Turkish policies, aspirations and attitude.

Those involved in the efforts to reach a solution, must finally realise that the creation of a truly independent, sovereign and normal state in Europe can not go hand in hand with the continuation of the anachronistic system of the 1960 guarantees or any intervention rights or any dependence of any of the two communities, said Anastasiades.

He reassured that he would continue to express the willingness of Cypriot Hellenism, for the creation of those circumstances that would allow for the resumption of the dialogue adding that those who have influence on Turkey should prepare the Conference on Cyprus in such a way, so that we are not faced with the same circumstances as in Crans-Montana, where it was necessary ‘in one night to determine if and to what extent the Turks meant what they were saying to their interlocutors or publicly, through a positive rhetoric”.

Efforts of the Greek Cypriot side were focused on creating a viable and functional state without occupation troops or guarantees, a European state that will function just like any other EU state, he added.

We seek for a solution that would allow Cypriots to decide on the future of their country and not on the basis of the policies of any third country and, in particular Turkey, he concluded.

Culled from Cyprus Mail.