Five-party conference concludes in Switzerland
20 January, 2017Çavuşoğlu: “Turkey continues to have a constructive approach to finalising the negotiations in Cyprus”
23 January, 2017President Mustafa Akıncı stated that the choice of the Turkish Cypriot people regarding security should be respected.
All sides should show the necessary goodwill, determination and mutual understanding to reach a solution in Cyprus, Akıncı stated.
The President stressed that it is important to be realistic and reasonable in order to reach a conclusion in the solution process:
“I always underline two important points and I reiterate them to my counterparts so that they can act according to these principles. The first one is being realistic. It is essential to be realistic in all areas, especially in terms of security and guarantees.”
“If the zero troops and zero guarantees discourse is repeated consistently, it will be blocked after a while. The Greek Cypriot side also needs to understand how the concerns of the Turkish Cypriot side can be met because the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey are considering the concerns of the Greek Cypriot side.”
“The important thing here is that the Turkish Cypriot people’s choice regarding security is respected. Adapting the 1960’s system to 2017 is possible but aiming to completely abolish is not realistic.”
“The second point is being reasonable in demands. We expect this from our counterparts. The map which was presented to us is not a map that can be accepted by the Turkish Cypriots.”
President Akıncı also stated that the Cyprus talks are continuing in Mont Pèlerin and that they may soon continue at the Leaders’ or at the executive level with the prime ministers and heads of state.