Cyprus Talks: Equality for Turkish Cypriots in reunification essential - Akinci

President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Mustafa Akinci, has noted that equality for Turkish Cypriots in reunification of the divided island is essentials noting that if the Greek Cypriot side continues to be patted on the back, then a search for solution and peace in Cyprus will be pushed into another spring.

Speaking on CNN Turk, Akinci reiterated that the energy in the Eastern Mediterranean could be a field of cooperation rather than an area of tension and conflict. 

He said that the effort of Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades to ignore the active participation and the political equality of the Turkish Cypriots is unacceptable.

Noting that the essence of the concept of loose federation or a decentralised federation is that the two constituent states will be stronger than the central federal power. Akinci noted that the Greek Cypriot side had asked for the central government to be armed with more authority. 

Akinci further added that Anastasiades by making a ‘U’ turn, voiced the idea that the centre should be weaker and the constituent states should be armed with authority. Akinci pointed out that this idea has been also their idea in the past.

Referring to the definition of the political equality, which is a UN parameter, Akinci said that 

even if political equality does not involve any numerical equality in all of the federal organs, it will ensure that the Turkish Cypriots will definitely vote. These aspects have been agreed upon.

Kibris Postasi (LGC News)