Cyprus negotiations at a decisive turning point says Anastasiades

Cyprus: Greek Cypriot president Nicos Anastasiades on Sunday said the ongoing Cyprus negotiations are at decisive turning point and if the coming meetings with his counterpart, the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci deliver what is expected, there is cause for cautious optimism.


Speaking at a memorial service for EOKA fighters in Yeri, Anastasiades said;

''The results so far on the table allow us to be cautiously optimistic. If subsequent meetings with Mr Akinci deliver what we expect, then we will be able to more confidently talk about a positive outcome to this long negotiation process.”

Both leaders of the divided island are currently engaged in an intensive round of talks due to end on September 14 which will determine the next step in negotiations and if there will be a joint meeting of the leaders in New York with the UN Secretary-General and then a subsequent five-party meeting with the guarantor powers including Greece, Turkey and Britain.

The Turkish side is pushing for both, but Anastasiades has refused to commit, saying it depended on the progress of the negotiations.

“The negotiation process for the solution of our national problem is a decisive turning point,” Anastasiades said, adding that “The results so far on the table allow us to be cautiously optimistic.”

Anastasiades said the details of the ongoing discussions would not be made public before September 14 as agreed with Akinci, in order not to jeopardise the process.

Anastasiades however said that he would brief political party leaders on the content of the meetings before he departs for New York for the general assembly meeting on September 17 adding that they were also free to peruse the negotiations documents at the presidential palace.

“I will not make reference to two essential chapters on territorial adjustments and guarantees,” he said. “Our positions are well known.”

Answering questions after the event on Sunday, president Anastasiades said what matters to him is what the Greek Cypriot side put on the negotiating table and not what the other sideseek to gain.

“I will deal with what Mr Akinci says within the negotiations. It is what we are putting forward as the Greek Cypriot side that counts for me and not what other community seeks to achieve.”

When asked about his reference to optimism during his speech, he said;

“Did you hear someone speak of optimism, or for cautious optimism? That depends on what will be agreed for the remaining chapters.”

In an earlier address, Anastasiades said the status quo could not “be our future”.

“What today is considered stability is nothing more than an ephemeral stability because we see how fluid the situation in the world is, and particularly in our region,” time was a factor “that unfortunately works to the detriment of all of us” (both sides), he said.

“My own belief is that we have reached the fullness of time to put an end to years of tensions and insecurity, to shake hands and lead our country to peace process, security, stability and prosperity.”

President Anastasiades asked whether there was any other said way to recover territory or restitution or to prevent the annexation of the occupied areas by Turkey, to secure human rights and safeguard the four freedoms, with full implementation of the EU acquis.

“Similar concerns have to be addressed by our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, who should ponder what will be their benefits from the termination of this situation. They have to realise that only through a mutually agreed solution will they be able to stand as an equal in the international community.

Only through the solution will achieve financial independence,” he said, adding at the same time they have to realise their security cannot be a threat to the Greek Cypriot community.

Anastasiades also reiterated that the people would have the lastsay in the acceptance or rejection of any solution.

“The initial positions to the negotiating table do not mean they will be the final position. Mutual concessions will be made ​​by both sides in order to respect the concerns of and not affect the interests of the other,” he concluded.

Source: Cyprus Mail