President Mustafa Akıncı said that the Cyprus problem should not remain unresolved. In an interview with BRT and TAK reporters in New York he said:
“As the Turkish Cypriot side, we have proved this many times. We are in New York with the same constructive attitude. In our meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday, we will seek to reach a conclusion on the issues that we have been determined to resolve over the last two years”.
President Akıncı pointed out that the way to get solve the Cyprus problem was not only to issue slogans but to provide real content. It does not serve the interests of the people to manage perception by saying one thing to the public while concealing real attitudes. Out attitudes has been clear from the beginning, he said.
Akıncı said that saying that you accept political equality but not effectively participating in the decision-making and rotating presidency means that you do not accept political equality as set out in UN resolutions and previous conventions. “What is said is of course important, but it is much more important that what is being said and done is not different”.
In response to the question regarding the creation of terms of reference, Akıncı stated that the Turkish Cypriot side requires three basic elements for the formation of the framework that the UN Secretary-General expects to be completed as soon as the UN Secretary-General’s temporary Special Adviser to Cyprus Jane Holl Lute took office. He stated that these are the February 11, 2014 Joint Agreement Document, past agreements and the Guterres Framework dated 30 June 2017.
Akıncı reminded that Anastasiades, over the last two years, had resisted accepting the Guterres Framework dated 30 June 2017. He said that the negotiations within this framework take them forward. It would not help if changes were made to the content of that document.
“I believe that it is of great importance for the UN to protect its own parameters and to prevent the Greek Cypriot side from deviating from these parameters”, he said.
Akıncı said that the Turkish Cypriot side is aiming for a clear and healthy start and a successful conclusion if a new process with the objectives of a result-oriented and strategic agreement are pursued.
He said it was possible that a three or five-party meeting between the actors was likely. He would be willing to take part, providing these meetings are properly well-prepared.
President Akıncı said, “We are not aiming for a process that goes on and on, but as it is stated in the reports of the Secretary–General, we are aiming for a strategic plan, a well-planned, well-structured, non-open-ended and result-oriented process”.
The president stated that they would go to a constructive meeting with the UN Secretary-General adding: “We will also remind him about our proposal dated July 13 [to form a bi-communal committee to manage hydrocarbons], which will eliminate the tension on hydrocarbons and provides us with a way out. We are here to contribute to peace and stability, not tension”.
BRT
