Akıncı: “We are in the beginning of the way regarding property”

President Mustafa Akıncı said that they have just started to discuss issues relating to property rights. Stating that there is false information circulating, Akıncı said: ‘The names of the villages, the percentages, and the maps have not been discussed yet.  They will be discussed when the right time comes. It is not the right time now’.

Underlining that he will never take a step that would be dangerous for the Turkish Cypriots and that would make them live a life that they do not deserve, Akıncı stated: ‘I want the Turkish Cypriot community to feel at peace’.

Making statements about the Cyprus problem at a reception, Mustafa Akıncı said that they are in the third month of the negotiation process that has been going on for 47 years. Akıncı added: ‘Our people believe that a settlement of the Cyprus problem will be reached soon. I am happy for that’.

Stating that ‘the negotiation process and its progression are very important for our future’, Akıncı said that it is natural that people want to have first-hand accounts of the process.

President Mustafa Akıncı stated that he will inform the government and the political parties with seats in the Assembly next week, and that he will have a meeting with press representatives on Wednesday morning.

Stating that they will also establish a platform for civil society, Akıncı said that he also had a meeting with the Speaker of the Assembly, Sibel Siber, and that he will come together with the members of Parliament next month in the Assembly.

Stating that he wants a possible settlement to ‘be in favour of the both communities’, President Mustafa Akıncı emphasized that they are in accordance with the Joint Declaration, dated 11 February. He also reminded that they started negotiating after making sure they were in agreement on this issue.

Stating that the Declaration also refers to the EU norms and the EU principles, President Akıncı said: ‘Adopting the EU norms does not mean that we abandon bi-zonality’.

Mentioning the EU’s position in the process and several important principles, Akıncı said: ‘It is an UN-led process. There was also an EU representative in 2012. The same person has been appointed again. He will provide us technical assistance and his specialized knowledge’.