Too early to give up on Cyprus reunification - Akinci

It's too early to ‘throw in the towel’ on the Cyprus Problem, said president of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus, Mustafa Akıncı, adding that it was not an easy choice to declare failure on the Cyprus Problem once again.

Speaking on a joint broadcast televised on Kanal T, Kıbrıs TV and Kanal SİM, on Friday March, 29, Akinci said he was going to speak with the UN Secretary General’s Special Temporary Adviser Jane Holl Lute on April 1.

That is why I don’t believe we are at point yet, Akıncı said.

Akinci said that there was a possibility the UN envoy would be visiting the island in the near future.

Stating that it was too early to say that everything was over on the Cyprus Problem, Akıncı reminded that talks had begun between Turkey and Greece in Antalya recently and would continue in Athens on April 12.

We don’t know if there will be unofficial developments after that or what kind of a role Lute will take on, said Akıncı.

The President also criticized the Greek Cypriot press stating that it was attempting to create the image that there was no hope regarding new talks on the Cyprus Problem.

The Greek Cypriot press usually thinks it knows everything better than anyone else and usually announces everything before everyone else. Lately, Greek Cypriot media have been reporting that the process is dead while the process has yet to be completed, said Akıncı.

The President, however, said it would be wrong to say that things were looking bright.

Nevertheless the UN envoy has yet to complete her work, he said.

Akıncı also pointed out that any future talks on the Cyprus Problem would not start from scratch and that any new round of talks would require common understanding and ground on the convergences reached so far.

There are serious differences on this issue. We support the June 30 Guterres Framework, he said.

Akıncı said that Turkish Cypriots would not accept a unitary state, nor had Greek Cypriots come to terms with the idea of two separate states.

Some are arguing we should table a two-state solution. But if we do we shall be going outside the framework of UN parameters. You would be easing various circles on the Greek Cypriot side but you can’t achieve a two-state solution, he added.

The President said that the only solution model that seemed possible or feasible was a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

Such a model, Akıncı said could only work through effective participation in decision making.

President Akıncı reminded that there was also a guarantor aspect to the Cyprus Problem as well as the fact that one of the two sides on the island was an EU member.

You can’t solve the Cyprus Problem with one side alone. We can’t tango either. What we need is a group dance like ‘halay’ or ‘sirtaki’ , Akıncı noted.

Source: BRT