Cyprus Talk: If Akinci re-elected, talks can ‘definitely’ resume - Anastasiades

Cyprus talks can ‘definitely’ resume, if Mustafa Akinci is re-elected as the Turkish Cypriot leader come October, Greek Cypriot leader, Nicos Anastasiades said last week.

Anastasiades made the remark in a video interview with Politico magazine on Saturday last week where he spoke about the Cyprus problem, natural gas, among others.

Speaking on the Cyprus problem, which have been frozen since talks failed at the Swiss-resort town Crans Montana in 2017, Anastasiades said, reunification talks between the two sides of the island can “definitely” resume if Akinci is re-elected leader.

Turkish Cypriots will head to the polls in October to elect a new leader.

Speaking on the issue of natural gas, Anastasiades said he has offered Turkish Cypriots a share of gas revenues if Turkey recognises Nicosia’s energy exploration rights.

I’m ready to open an escrow account in favour of the Turkish Cypriot community, according to the population ratio. And if Turkey stops the aggressiveness, and recognises the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus, I’m ready to accept, even without finding a solution to the Cyprus question, to give the right to the Turkish Cypriots to benefit by withdrawing… any proceeds which might be the result of the exploitation of the natural resources.