Only the people can remove me from power - Akinci said as speculation grows he is being sidelined

President of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus, Mustafa Akinci has taken to social media to say only the people can remove his ‘powers’ as ‘president’ in a response to speculation that the political landscape north Cyprus is attempting to sideline him.

In a post on Facebook on Saturday, Akinci commented on a meeting between Greek Cypriot President, Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly in New York earlier this month, saying that there were many comments made about his inactivity and that only the people could remove him from power.

Akinci is seen to be being sidelined, as neither Cavusoglu nor Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met him during the UN General Assembly.

Meanwhile, the TRNC ‘foreign minister’Kudret Ozersay has been getting more publicity in recent days as he thought to be gearing up to take over as Turkish Cypriot leader.

Ozersay met Disy leader Averof Neophytou twice over the last month, once in New York and once in Kormakitis.

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika said Akinci was sidelined by Turkey because he did not abandon the position for a bi-zonal bi-communal solution to the Cyprus problem and opposed the “separate state formula.”

Arguing that the negotiations for the Cyprus problem are being held between south Cyprud and Turkey, the paper noted that Akinci was being pushed out of the process.

Akinci had said he knew of the Anastasiades Cavusoglu meeting, which took place “in order to find out the intentions.”

We didn’t see much of a problem in that. My objection is for this becoming frequent. If Turkey and the Greek Cypriot side start negotiating That would disturb me. I won’t hide this, he said.

CM