TRNC News 18.8.2016 President Akinci discussed Cyprus negotiations with President Erdogan

President Akıncı discusses Cyprus negotiations with President Erdoğan in Ankara

President Mustafa Akıncı met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Presidential Complex in Ankara yesterday as part of an official visit to Turkey.

According to President Akıncı, the Ankara visit had two purposes: to evaluate the latest stage of the Cyprus negotiations with the goal of making 2016 the year of peace by finding and realising a solution for the Island, and also to convey the Turkish Cypriot people’s support and solidarity to the people of the Republic of Turkey following the 15 July attempted coup in which 240 people lost their lives and around 2,000 were wounded.

In a joint press conference following the meeting, the latest developments in the Cyprus negotiations were discussed.

President Erdoğan stated that “both Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus support a comprehensive, fair and lasting solution for Cyprus.”

He continued, “Our efforts are directed towards this. Our aim is to establish a new bi-zonal, bi-communal partnership based on political equality and within the framework of the UN parameters. We must find a solution in such a way that preserves the rights and security enjoyed by Turkish Cypriots.”

“Turkey will continue to play its part in achieving peace and stability on the Island and in the region.”

This point was expanded upon by President Akıncı who stated that “It is not possible to have an agreement without equality, security and freedom. We are ready for an agreement which provides these three basic elements.”

President Akıncı also declared that a turning point has been reached in the Cyprus negotiations: “Mr. Anastasiades and I are from the same generation. This is our generation’s last chance (to find a solution). We have two options: either we will reach a solution in Cyprus before the end of 2016 or this window of opportunity will be lost due to election campaigns in the South. There would be a different atmosphere if the talks spilled over to 2017 – the most rational thing to do is to try and reach a solution before then.”