Cyprus Talks: Both sides have to be fair and logical to achieve peace; Mustafa Akinci

Cyprus: Unless both sides of the divided Cyprus island acts fairly and logically “peace cannot come to these lands,” said Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci on Thursday. During his address at a traditional night organised by the [Turkish Cypriot] Limassol Cultural Association, Akinci said;

“We have to be fair. While exerting efforts for our own rights for a lasting agreement, we must not forget that the other community has also rights on this island. Both sides must behave within fair and logical measures. Otherwise, peace cannot come to these lands; otherwise, there could be no solution and peace.”

President Akinci vowed to continue the upcoming negotiation process cool-headedly, wisely and in close dialogue with Turkey.

“You have loaded a very big responsibility on my shoulders. I am trying to do what is necessary to fulfil this responsibility. This is why I am asking for a little patience. It seems that we have swum a lot and came to the end of this issue” said Akinci.

Akinci reiterated that the Turkish Cypriots side have been excluded from the Republic of Cyprus for 53 years, insisting that now is the time for the Turkish Cypriots to regain their rights as a community by establishing a new bi-communal bi-zonal federal structure.

Akinci also mentioned that the most important opportunity created by the 1974 Turkish peacekeeping mission is bi-zonality.

“Let us take our position as a modern community among the communities of the world by preserving bi-zonality. We will hold the last meeting of the second round of the intensified negotiations on 14^th September and go to New York. We have one and only one target: With good will to secure that the Turkish Cypriot people are able to face to the future as a healthy community, their equality, freedom and security, protecting their real interests”.

Speaking about daily comments made concerning the on going Cyprus negotiations, Akinci said that he has answers for everyone, adding that it should not be forgotten that;

“the people will decide at the very end of the process. There will be sufficient time for the referendum which will be conducted in both communities”, he noted.

Source: LGC News/Afrika