Turkish Cypriots shall no longer engage in ineffectual talks that is not results-oriented - Akinici

North Cyprus president, Mustafa Akinci on Thursday said he has no objection to a social meeting with Greek Cypriot president Nicos Anastasiades but cautioned that Turkish Cypriots would not be dragged into a futile talks process. 

We discussed this, we have discussed these things with [the UN Secretary General’s deputy special advisor in Cyprus] Elizabeth Spehar. Is a meeting possible, even if it is only of a social nature? Yes it is possible, Akinci told reporters after a meeting with politicians in Lefkosa on Thursday.

We shall be assessing this possibility over the coming days. But I reiterate, the important thing here is that the Turkish Cypriots shall no longer engage in an ineffectual, open-ended process that is not results-oriented.

Aknici noted that he has not seen a change of mindset in the Greek Cypriot side since the presidential elections.

For our part, we have no problem meeting and talking. We shall meet, drink coffee and have a meal if need be. But it is important not to forget the issue that will take us somewhere, which is that a serious change of mentality is necessary in the Greek Cypriot side.

Both leaders have not met since the Cyprus talks collapsed in July last year in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.

Anastasiades has signaled his willingness to meet socially with Akinci without preconditions.