Akıncı: “Good progress made on administration and power sharing”

President Mustafa Akıncı, who had a breakfast meeting with press representatives, said that they have made good progress on issues, such as administration and the power sharing, however, they have not reached a solution about the rotating presidency, which is an inseparable part of the political equality.

Stating that they had taken solid steps towards implementing Confidence Building Measures, Mustafa Akıncı said that they located the mine fields in the north side and removed the requirement to fill a visa form at the crossing points. He also stated that they are working at a technical level on several issues, such as interconnecting the electricity grids, making mobile telephone networks interoperable, preventing radio frequency interferences, and opening more crossing points.

Stating that the Technical Committee on Culture has been formed and that they are working on establishing a committee on gender equality, Akıncı reminded that they took part in social activities together with the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades. Mustafa Akıncı emphasized that the main objective in the negotiations is to reach a comprehensive solution and said that some speculative news takes place in the Greek press from time to time as in the past and he asked that such news should not be considered. Akıncı stated that the parameters of a solution have been discussed for many years and emphasized that they are known.  Akıncı said: “We are aiming to reach a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal structure” and underlined that, he defended this perspective during his presidential candidateship and also now.

President Mustafa Akıncı noted that the ownership, guarantees and security issues are being discussed for many years and underlined that the ownership is the last issue to be discussed.

Emphasizing that there are five sides such as Turkish Cypriot side, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey, UK and Greece on the issue of guarantees, President Akıncı said “Of course, when the time comes, these issues will be negotiated. Our freedom, equality and safety are so important for us. A possible agreement will certainly include these issues”. President Akıncı also reminded that some statements concerning sending some people by boats in case of an agreement are completely unreal, Akıncı also expressed that the solution to be found should be suitable for human rights as well.

Furthermore, President Mustafa Akıncı stated that neither village, territory, area issues nor percentage issues have been discussed at the table so far and that the ideas which put forth on these issues are only assumptions.