“Anastasiades stepped back from giving a joint message to the UNSG,” President Akıncı states
President Mustafa Akıncı has said that the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades stepped back from an agreement made prior to their New York trip, to give a joint message to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
This was due to the influence of the Greek Cypriot National Council and possible reactions from opposition parties, the President stated.
The statement was intended to pave the way for the five-party meeting.
Speaking to a TAK reporter before leaving New York, Akıncı stated that he held a one-to-one meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and a joint meeting which included Anastasiades.
Akıncı also had meetings with the US Vice President Joe Biden, German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioğlu and the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide.
When asked to what extent the three-way meeting met the expectations of the Turkish Cypriot side, Akıncı responded that they had not come to New York expecting miracles, as he previously stated at Ercan airport. “We came here to assess the situation and to determine how best to move forward because it is obvious that we have a tight timetable and the deadline for this timetable is the end of this year’’ Akıncı said.
“The UN Secretary-General is leaving his post at the end of this year and we expect him to take a more active role in the process.”
Finding a settlement before the end of 2016 is both sides’ aim, and the Secretary General will help in this regard, Akıncı said.
According to the President, there are risks in carrying the negotiations into 2017, and Akıncı thus emphasized that it would benefit all parties if a settlement could be reached before the end of this year.
Minister Ertuğruloğlu continues his official visit to Washington
As part of his official visit to Washington, Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu had bilateral meetings with US Congress Deputies yesterday.
Ertuğruloğlu met with Members of Congress Pete Sessions, Randy Weber, Steve Cohen and Senator Tom Udall. Ertuğruloğlu informed the Members of Congress about the latest developments in the Cyprus talks and evaluated the negotiation process.
Furthermore, Minister Ertuğruloğlu gave an interview to Tolga Tanış, the Washington Representative of the newspaper Hürriyet.
Ertuğruloğlu also attended the dinner hosted in his honour by the Turkish American Steering Committee (TASC).
UNSG Ban Ki-moon reiterates determination to achieve a settlement before the end of 2016
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon confirmed his intention to work closely with all parties in order to achieve a settlement before the end of 2016 in a telephone conversation with President Mustafa Akıncı yesterday.
During the conversation, which took place in the course of President Akıncı’s New York visit, Akıncı and Ban Ki-Moon exchanged views on necessary steps to reach a settlement before the end of 2016 and agreed to stay in close contact in the crucial forthcoming period.
Political party leaders and representatives meet in the buffer zone
Turkish and Greek Cypriot political party leaders and representatives met yesterday within the framework of routine meetings organised by the Slovakian Embassy in South Cyprus.
The meeting, entitled “Negotiation Process: This chance should be evaluated,” was held in the buffer zone at the Ledra Palace hotel under the auspices of the Communal Democracy Party (TDP).
Among the attending parties from the TRNC were: the National Unity Party (UBP), the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the Communal Democracy Party (TDP), the New Cyprus Party (YKP), the United Cyprus Party (BKP), the People’s Party (HP) and the Cyprus Socialist Party (KSP). On the other hand, the parties attending from South Cyprus were namely: the Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL); the Democratic Party (DIKO); the United Democrats (EDI); the Democratic Rally party (DISI); the Movement for Social Democracy (EDEK); and EPALXI.
Reading the joint statement after the meeting, Slovakian Ambassador Oksana Tomova stated that the participants agreed that this opportunity should be evaluated and were encouraged to intensify their efforts towards reaching a settlement on the Cyprus issue as soon as possible. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 26th of October.
European Rally Championship’s Cyprus leg to be held on 8th October
The Cyprus leg of the 3rd European Rally Championship will be held with the cooperation of Cyprus Automobile Association and Cyprus Turkish Touring and Automobile Association on Saturday, 8th of October.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
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