Cyprus Talks: Leaders will meet today

Leaders of the divided Cyprus island, Mustafa Akinci, Turkish Cypriot president and Nicos Anastasiades, Greek Cypriot president will have an informal meeting hosted by the head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) Elizabeth Spehar, on Tuesday morning.

Akinci – Spehar – Anastasiades

The meeting which will be held at the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar’s residence in the buffer zone in Lefkoşa will start at 10:30am.

It’s been claimed by the Greek Cypriot media that the Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades will convey to President Akıncı his readiness to discuss the issue of a decentralized federation.

According to the reports, Anastasiades will announce his intention to reduce the powers of the central government and to hand over more authorities to the constituent states with the aim of establishing a decentralised federation.

Akıncı in his earlier statements on the issue had asked the Greek Cypriot leader to reveal openly and clarify his views regarding a decentralised federation.

When referring to the issue of political equality, Akıncı had said   

Wee don’t know if we are talking about the same thing while we mention political equality.

If we are talking about taking the decisions with a majority then we are talking about a unitary state. If we won’t have joint authorities in the centralized state then we refer to two states.

However, if we are talking about a federation then there is a need for active participation of both sides, Akıncı said.

Akıncı also reminded that while the Turkish Cypriot side had been demanding that more authorities reside with the constituent states the Greek Cypriot side’s traditional position over the years had been in support of a more centralised state.

He asked if Anastasiades wanted these authorities to be given to the constituent states.

BRT