Guarantor powers are not needed for a new federal Cyprus, South Cyprus government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides has reiterated.
Keeping Turkey as guarantor will negatively impact the Turkish Cypriots because this will allow Turkey to interfere with their policy making decisions after a settlement, Christodoulides told Greek Cypriot daily Phileleftheros.
Developments after the failed coup attempt on 15 July underscore this argument, he claimed. He argued that this demonstrates that there can be no military guarantees by Turkey or the Turkish army stationed in the North
According to the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, Greece, Turkey, and Great Britain are the guarantor powers for the independence, territorial integrity and security of Cyprus.
The Greek Cypriots and Greece want to scrap this arrangement on the grounds that it is outdated, however Turkey remains insistent on keeping it guarantor status.
Christodoulides said that the Turkish Cypriots must choose “which future they prefer”; being a part of a reunited country, which is also part of the EU, or alignment with Turkey “with the developments we experience today”.
The two community leaders will resume negotiations on Tuesday after a summer break. Discussions including those on guarantees will be held during the seven meetings scheduled until 14th September. The outcome of those talks will give a good idea of where the talks are going, the South has said.
Cyprus Mail
