Cyprus Talks: Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci blames Greek Cypriot side for failed talks

Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci on Tuesday blamed the Greek Cypriot side for the collapse of the ongoing reunification talks in Switzerland as the United Nations continue to reaffirmed its support for the process, and encouraging both sides to continue the talks towards reaching a settlement this year.

Akinci said the Greek Cypriot side was responsible for the collapse of the talks but said there was still a possibility of resolving the issue this year as he expressed readiness to return to the negotiating table.

Akinci said, the Greek Cypriot side raised illogical demands and had no intention of shifting from its positions.

He said that the Turkish Cypriot side agreed that some refugees should return, without however unsettling daily lives on either side.

He also said that  the number of people the Greek Cypriot side wanted to resettle was excessive since many were no longer alive.

Despite the failure of the talks, UN Secetary-General Ban ki-Moon through his spokesman Stephane Dujarric, on Tuesday expressed confidence “that the two leaders will rise above the current challenges in the process.”

“He is also hopeful that they will continue to work tirelessly, as they have done so far, towards reaching a settlement inside 2016,” the spokesman said.

Stephane added that the international organization would continue to support the process.

Source: Cyprus Mail