President Mustafa Akinci has said that territorial adjustments in a reunited federal Cyprus are not needed, ‘Phileleftheros’ reported on Tuesday.
This implies that territories in the north such as Guzelyurt (Morphou) and the Karpaz peninsula will not be returned to the Greek Cypriots.
Citing reliable sources, the Greek Cypriot daily reported that Akinci justified his argument at the UN-brokered Cyprus talks in Nicosia by saying that both sides of the divide have accepted the principle of four freedoms. And this allows all Cypriot citizens to reside wherever they want after reunification.
Even though both regions were to be returned under the UN-brokered Annan plan which was put to referenda back in 2004, most Greek Cypriots rejected the plan because they considered it to be unfair and non-viable.
In addition, President Nicos Anastasiades made clear that the return of Guzelyurt is a red line for the Greek Cypriot side.
‘Phileleftheros’ noted that after Saturday’s talks between Anastasiades and Akinci, the Turkish Cypriot leader himself had said there were restrictions in the implementation of the four freedoms.
On Wednesday, the two leaders will hold the last of eight intensive meetings aimed at reunifying the island. After which, they will meet with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York on 26th September.
