Erdoğan: “You should not expect a solution without Turkey as a guarantor – we are going to be there forever”
16 January, 2017TRNC Tourism promoted in Vienna
17 January, 2017President Mustafa Akıncı held a press conference at Ercan Airport upon his return to the island following the completion of the five-party conference and the Cyprus negotiations in Geneva.
During a press conference, President Akıncı said that in order to conclude the negotiations, issues related to Territory, Security and Guarantees, Property and Executive power-sharing must be incorporated into the same solution.
Akıncı said the agreement reached on 1 December has been implemented as agreed. Akıncı stated that progress was made during the negotiations from 9 – 11 January and the processes for discussion at the five-party conference started on 12 January.
Akıncı said that the negotiation process began with the participation of both sides during the first 3 days of the conference. The negotiations then continued with the participation of the 3 guarantor countries and the EU as an observer.
Akıncı also noted that maps for proposed territorial adjustments were mutually presented by the two leaders and submitted to the UN. “The maps are now in the hands of the UN. These maps will only come out with the decision of the two leaders” said Akıncı.
The President stated that the Turkish Cypriot side took its place in the five-party conference as equals with the other participants.
“It was exactly a five-party conference. Both the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots were there as equals. Permanent members of the Security Council were not present at the conference. The Cyprus Republic was not represented either.” President Akıncı noted that the EU’s observer status was approved by the Turkish and Greek Cypriots, and the EU’s status will remain the same.
The leaders of the both the Turkish and Greek Cypriots, and the Foreign Ministers of the three guarantor countries, made speeches at the conference following the opening speech by the UN Secretary-General.
5 working groups will be formed as part of the negotiations and they will start work in Mont Pèlerin as of 18 January. A group under the presidency of Özdil Nami will represent the Turkish Cypriot side.
The conference has not finished but has taken on a new form, President Akıncı noted, and the preparatory works for the conference are being taken to a higher level.
Akıncı indicated that if a solution is reached at the end of the conference, there will need to be very intensive technical studies such as the preparation of the Constitution and drafting federal laws. Akıncı said that before any referendum, both sides should take the necessary time to prepare for and understand what needs to be done as part of a proposed solution.
President Mustafa Akıncı stated that they have been in close dialogue and consultation with Turkey from the very beginning of the negotiation process and they will continue with the same attitude. Indicating that Turkey’s support is very important to the Turkish Cypriot people, Akıncı said that he does not observe the same close relationship between Greece and the Greek Cypriot side.