Cyprus president: Good climate in talks "not enough"

There are still many differences President Nicos Anastasiades said after returning from a round of Cyprus talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci on Thursday night, Radio Proto reported.

He said that the meeting was held in a “good climate, but that is not enough,” since the goal is to achieve results. 

The President added that he and Akinci were informed by Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis and Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami on the work done until today and the work to continue on Friday. 

Asked if the issue of Turkey’s increasing threats were discussed, the President said: “Of course”, adding that it does not contribute to a creating the “climate we would like.” 

“We cannot be talking about confidence building measures on the one hand and on the other have all these threats on the part of Turkey,” he said. 

However, the President did not comment on the reaction of the Turkish Cypriot leader, when Turkey’s threats were raised at the negotiating table. 

Take note of the concerns

President Anastasiades expressed the hope that at some point “everyone will understand that it is necessary to truly take note of the concerns, which are expressed by the Greek Cypriot community.” 

On his part, the Turkish Cypriot leader said that yesterday’s meeting focused on two issues: the decisive participation in the decision making bodies of federal governance and the issue of “equal handling of Turkish and Greek citizens.” 

Akinci said that both issues can be solved in reasonable contexts, adding that there is no issue of 80 million Turkish citizens entering into the EU through the back door. 

The Turkish Cypriot leader added that the “reasonable opinions” of the Turkish Cypriot side were better understood by the EU and the UN than by the Greek Cypriot side.

Regarding the issue of Turkish Cypriot participation in the decision making centres of a federal government, Akinci said that his community is being faced with a resistance that they are finding difficult to understand. 

On the navigational telex issued for Cyprus’ waters by Turkey, Akinci said that Anastasiades wanted to discuss the issue, adding that his opinion is that the reason for the NAVTEX’s issuance must be investigated.

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