Joint statement made by the UN: “This historic opportunity should not be missed, the security of one community cannot come at the expense of the security of the other”
Following the completion of the first session of the 5-party Conference in Geneva which was held with the participation of both sides and the guarantor countries, the UN made a statement on behalf of both parties. The UN emphasized that this historic opportunity to reach a solution in Cyprus should not be missed.
The Conference on Cyprus was convened on 12 January 2017, in Geneva, under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, with the participation of H.E. Mr. Mustafa Akıncı and H.E. Mr. Nikos Anastasiades, the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom as guarantor powers and in the presence of the European Union as an observer.
In the statement Mr. Anastasiades and Mr. Akıncı were praised for the remarkable progress made over the past 20 months in the Cyprus talks. It was noted that it was only possible to convene the conference yesterday due to leaders’ dedicated work.
The statement continues as follows:
“The discussions today (12th January) underscored the participants’ intention to find mutually acceptable solutions on security and guarantees that address the concerns of both communities. They recognized that the security of one community cannot come at the expense of the security of the other. They also acknowledged the need to address the traditional security concerns of the two communities while at the same time developing a security vision for a future united federal Cyprus. The participants recognized that this is the time to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion. This is an historic opportunity that should not be missed. The participants therefore committed to supporting the process towards a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.”
The statement added that all interested parties’ efforts will be necessary for the forthcoming period. Therefore, to this end, a working group will be established in order to identify specific questions and the instruments needed to address them. The group will commence its work on 18 January. The conference will continue at political level immediately thereafter to review the outcome of the working group’s discussion.
At the end of the statement, it was also emphasized that the Conference confirmed the full commitment of the three guarantor countries in support of reaching a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.
Akıncı: “A solution alone is not enough”
President Mustafa Akıncı stated yesterday that a solution alone will not be enough, and that an international collective effort will be needed to meet the cost of the resolution of the Cyprus problem.
In his speech at the opening of the International Cyprus Conference in Geneva, Akıncı acknowledged that the Conference may not produce an immediate result, but reiterated there is not much time to reach the important and desired outcome.
Stressing that negotiations under the auspices of UN have been continuing for 49 years but that the Cyprus problem has been continuing for 54 years, Akıncı added, “We do not have the luxury of time anymore. But I do not think that failure is an option. Bearing in mind that a failure to resolve the Cyprus issue may divide the island permanently, no one desires such an outcome”.
Guterres: “I strongly believe Cyprus can be the symbol of hope at the beginning of 2017”
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated that they are at the point to reach a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution in Cyprus.
Pointing out that there are many situations of disasters in the world, Guterres said that Cyprus can be the symbol of hope for the world at the beginning of 2017.
Congratulating the leaders for their courage and determination during the last 20 months, Guterres described yesterday’s session (12th January) as being “extremely constructive”.
UN Secretary General stated that it would be necessary to find instruments that eliminate the security concerns of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities. Guterres also said that they are not looking for a quick fix. “We are looking for a solid and sustainable solution for Cyprus, and we will be working as long as necessary in order to achieve that goal,” said Guterres.
Reiterating that any solution would not just be a consensus among the leaders, but also one that would have to be endorsed by both communities at a referendum, Guterres added, “This is not an easy situation. We need to reach a mutual agreement that both communities will accept.”
Çavuşoğlu: “The continuation of the ‘security and guarantees’ which have been the mainstay of the security and stability of the country for 43 years is essential”
The Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu emphasized that ongoing negotiations that continue as an open-ended process for decades would not benefit anyone on the island, added that the continuation of the ‘security and guarantees’ which is one of the six chapters of the negotiations is essential.
Çavuşoğlu underlined that Turkey has, from the outset, resolutely supported the negotiations held under the auspices of the U.N. Secretary-General’s Good Offices Mission to reach a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement on the island.
However, Çavuşoğlu stated that the basic parameters of the comprehensive settlement aspects of EU primary law are indispensable for the legal security and certainty of the settlement agreement. Turkish citizens should fully enjoy the four freedoms in the Island on an equal basis with EU citizens, until Turkey’s EU membership.
Ertuğruloğlu met with Çavuşoğlu
Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.
Ertuğruloğlu and Çavuşoğlu exchanged views about the process ahead of the international Cyprus conference held 12th January in Geneva. The meeting aimed at evaluating the negotiation process was held at President Wilson Hotel.
Deputy Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Democratic Party Leader Serdar Denktaş, two ministerial officials and delegations were also present at the meeting.
Akıncı met with Johnson
President Mustafa Akıncı met with the UK Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson ahead of the International Conference on the Cyprus issue which started on 12th January in Geneva.
The meeting at the UN’s Geneva Centre, at which the delegations attended, started at 12.00 (TRNC time) and lasted for half an hour. The Minister of State for Europe and the Americas of the United Kingdom, Alan Duncan was also present at the meeting.
Burcu: “The map presented by the Greek Cypriot side is not acceptable, President Akıncı sent a letter to the UN Secretary General in this regard”
The Presidential Spokesperson Barış Burcu stated that the map which was presented by the Greek Cypriot side to the UN Secretary General yesterday was not acceptable for the Turkish Cypriot community and that President Mustafa Akıncı sent a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in this regard.
In his statement, following yesterday’s session (12th January) of the five-party Cyprus conference in Geneva, Burcu said: “We are actually ready to continue the conference tomorrow (13th January). As the Turkish Cypriot side, we have done all kinds of work. Turkey and the UK also expressed the same view with us, but Greece has stated it wants to postpone it for 10 days for additional preparation. Anastasiades also wanted to postpone the conference. The date they proposed was January 23, but they decided on January 18th since it was a late date.”
“Special representatives today (12th January) received a new task in order to build working groups quickly and prepare themselves for next week,” Burcu added.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
To read more news and information from the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, please click here
Pictures shown are courtesy of the TRNC Public Information Office Facebook page.
