TRNC News 16.2.2017 - Akinci: "Greek Cypriot side will determine future of negotiations"

Akıncı: “Greek Cypriot side will determine the future of the negotiations”

Stating that the progress of the negotiations will be determined by the Greek Cypriot side, President Mustafa Akıncı said that it will be up to them to decide whether to concentrate on the elections or on a solution.

In a statement following his meeting with the UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide, President Akıncı stressed the indignation caused by the decision of the Greek Cypriot House of Representatives to celebrate the Enosis plebiscite at Greek Cypriot schools. Akıncı said that he asked the Greek Cypriot leader to take a firm stance and challenge the decision. Akıncı also reiterated his outreach under the auspices of the UN on the issue and his letter sent to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Adding that he had discussed this issue face to face with Eide yesterday, Akıncı said that he will also discuss the decision with Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades today. As it stands, it appears that Anastasiades does not want to understand the real dimension of the issue and considers it as a passing reference to an historical event.

Akıncı noted that the United Nations should comprehend the issue very well because they bring the two sides together and try to contribute to the process with their good will.

As long as Anastasiades and his party continue to prioritize the elections rather than the negotiation process, the peace talks will be undermined, Akıncı added.

Akıncı stated that he will meet with Anastasiades today but their discussion will be solely focused on the Enosis plebiscite. Akıncı will listen to the views of Anastasiades regarding the decision and seek clarity on what the Greek Cypriot leader intends to do on the issue.

President Akıncı sent a letter to United Nations Secretary-General

In a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President Mustafa Akıncı made clear that unless the decision of the Greek Cypriot House of Representatives to mark the 1950 Enosis Plebiscite at Greek Cypriot schools is cancelled, it would be a major blow to attempts to foster trust between the two sides in Cyprus, and risks seriously damaging the negotiation process. President Akıncı requested the UN to launch an initiative for the decision to be retracted.

President Akıncı pointed out that the decision of the Greek Cypriot House of Representatives is not in line with the calls from both UN Secretary-General and UN Security Council to foster trust on the island and to prepare the two communities for a solution.

“Enosis was the main reason for the Cyprus problem, and this movement has brought nothing but pain and sorrow to Cyprus,” said Akıncı, adding that this decision would sow the seeds of division in the minds of future generations and make all confidence building measures pointless.

Expressing his surprise that such a decision was passed 67 years after the event and was brought forward by the far right ELAM, President Akıncı stated that it was of even greater sadness that the Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades’ party assisted the decision being passed.

Although the bi-communal Technical Committee on Education was established as a confidence building measure to develop culture, peace and education in case of a solution and for a viable federal Cyprus, it has become clear that the Greek Cypriot side has not acted responsibly to support this, Akıncı said.

In his letter to UN Secretary General, Akıncı emphasized that racist attacks by the Greek Cypriots towards Turkish Cypriots and the recent Enosis decision of the Greek Cypriot Parliament has increased the security concerns of the Turkish Cypriots.

Özgürgün: “No part of the TRNC is open to bargain, investments will continue equally in every region”

Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün stated that no part of the TRNC is open to bargain, investments will be carried out equally, in every region.

Özgürgün, who examined the Aslanköy – Paşaköy road, stated that investments will continue in the Mesarya region. On the other hand, Özgürgün also said that no part of the TRNC is open to bargain, no land will be given, adding that they will make an investment in these regions against any requests from the Greek Cypriot side.

Prime Minister Özgürgün also emphasized that every investment in these lands is for the Turkish Cypriot people to live in an honourable way.

Özgürgün continued: “The Cyprus issue can be resolved with Turkey. We can continue to wave the Turkish flag in this land together with Turkey and we will make all efforts to strengthen the TRNC. We will continue to work for next generations. The TRNC will continue to grow in strength, with the support of Turkey, and its rights will be preserved.”

Eide: “It is necessary to create an environment of trust between the two communities”

The UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor Espen Barth Eide has said that no matter how determined the leaders are, they must also ensure that the two communities can also trust each other.

In a statement he made yesterday after the hour-long meeting with President Mustafa Akıncı, Eide said that he held long and constructive meetings with both leaders in preparation for today’s meeting.

He said that the current environment is not ideal but that there have been many beneficial developments in the negotiation process. Eide added that today’s leaders’ meeting is important both in addressing recent developments and in making progress on the as-yet unresolved issues.

Eide also said, “I hope the leaders can clear the air during their meeting and find a common way to move forward, because the window of opportunity that we have been speaking about is there, it is still open, but I reiterate that it will not remain open for very much longer and we have to use what we have achieved as a platform to go the final mile.”

Answering a question on the decision of the Greek Cypriot parliament to mark the 1950 Enosis Plebiscite at Greek Cypriot schools and how to overcome it, Eide said that the issues will be addressed in today’s leader’s meeting.