Anastasiades calls on Turkey and Turkish Cypriots to change their mentality

Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades has called on Turkey and Turkish Cypriots to change their mentality saying the reason for the continuation of the “unacceptable status quo” was not due only to the lack of political will from Turkey but also the Turkish Cypriot side.

Anastasiades made the remarks on Sunday when speaking to reporters after a church service in Nicosia to mark 44 years since the coup and subsequent Turkish interventaion.

Disunity led us to an unwise and treacherous coup whose consequences we are experiencing today, Anastasiades said.

This is what should trouble all of us.

The reason for the continuation of the unacceptable status quo is not due solely to the lack of political will on the part of Turkey but also the Turkish Cypriots, he added.

Hope and wish there was a change in mentality there so that we can achieve a sustainable, workable solution, a solution worthy of the principles, beliefs and the European acquis he said.

The comment came a day after Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci called for a review of the UN peacekeeping force Unficyp in a letter to the UN Secretary-General.

Asked to comment on the letter and other comments made by Akinci on Saturday, Anastasiades said he did not wish to raise tensions, and that whatever the Greek Cypriot side had to say, had already been imparted to the UN chief ahead of the visit by his envoy Jane Holl Lute who is due in Cyprus later in the month to assess prospects for a resumption of the failed negotiations a year on.

Our position is well known. The efforts of respective [Cyprus] governments have always focused on a peaceful, lasting solution on the agreed basis.

Cyprus Mail