Akıncı continues his official visit to Brussels
President Mustafa Akıncı met with the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker on the last day of his official visit to Brussels. Making a statement to the press following the meeting, President Akıncı said that they assessed the work which has been done up until now regarding the resolution of the Cyprus problem. Akıncı also indicated that the President of the European Commission will continue to support the process to reach a solution.
Akıncı said that January will be a turning point for Cyprus, and that “We hope to link this to a positive outcome and to lead the development of a new understanding in the region. Let us focus on the bigger picture – if the natural gas around Cyprus is combined with Israeli gas, I think it can be used to meet the needs of both Turkey and the EU, via Cyprus and Turkey. It will create a great opportunity for cooperation. This is not just a personal assessment; I believe that the EU and Turkey think in the same way.”
As part of his ongoing meetings in Brussels, President Mustafa Akıncı also met with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier yesterday at a working breakfast. Akıncı and Steinmeier exchanged views on the Cyprus negotiations, Mont Pèlerin summit and the new schedule ahead of the multi-party conference.
Çavuşoğlu: “Negotiations should be result-oriented”
Regarding the new negotiation process, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that “It should be a ‘result-oriented’ process. Open-ended negotiations cannot be effective and cannot continue forever.”
In response to questions from journalists in Brussels after a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers, Çavuşoğlu said that “On the back of recent negotiations held on the island, it was decided to resume the Cyprus talks. This time it should be result-oriented.”
“Negotiation process back on track” says UN Special Advisor
The UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide said that the negotiation process has entered a very critical but positive phase.
Special Advisor Eide, who gave an interview to BRT, said that the deadlock in Mont Pèlerin had been overcome in the past week, and all parties are continuing their preparations for the Cyprus Conference in Geneva next month.
Eide stated that the negotiators are meeting three times a week ahead of Geneva in order to make progress on the issues that have not been agreed.
Regarding the procedural problems in the past, Eide said that precautions have been taken to prevent such things occurring again.
In addition to the negotiators, the Leaders will also meet before meeting in Geneva. Eide said that the roadmap for the negotiations is now ready.
Eide also held important contacts in Athens and Ankara over the past few days and added that all the guarantor countries, including the UK, welcome the resumption of the negotiations.
Negotiators met yesterday
Turkish Negotiator Özdil Nami and Greek Cypriot Negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis met in the buffer zone yesterday.
As previously announced, the issue of “External Relations” was discussed at the meeting.
The negotiators will hold their next meeting on Friday. “EU issues and Property” will be on the agenda.
Following his meetings in Greece and Turkey, the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide returned to the island and also attended the meeting yesterday.
The negotiating teams from both sides have agreed to meet three times a week ahead of the summit in Geneva.
President Akıncı nominated by Politico as one of the 28 most influential people for 2017
President Akıncı was ranked 17th in Politico Europe magazine’s annual list of the most influential people in Europe in the coming year.
The list, Politico 28, is a guide to the people likely to shape 2017 and beyond. President Mustafa Akıncı is part of a list of 27 other candidates which also includes Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and High Representative of Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Vice-President of the Commission, Federica Mogherini.
The nominees were ranked by the significance of their expected influence on international politics, business, or culture. The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan topped the list, while President Akıncı was ranked 17th and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was ranked 7th.
Support of Religious leaders of the work of the Committee on Missing Persons
The Office of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process (RTCYPP) are holding an event in support of the work of the Committee on Missing Persons.
The event will take place Friday evening at the Ledra Palace Hotel, in Nicosia’s buffer zone.
The joint video appeal of religious leaders will be released in this event for the first time.
The event will bring together the religious leaders of Cyprus, members of the CMP, family members of missing persons, different associations or organisations for the missing, members of the diplomatic corps and UN representatives, civil society actors, political parties and members of different faith communities in Cyprus.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
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I hope you know what you’re doing Mr Akıncı, dont let them mislead you with this gas line idea. I’d rather be without it then live with a community who hates us and doesnt want us (TCs) to even be here on this Island. Never forget this please. Im not going to say anything else for now. I think I made myself clear (for what its worth)……..