Akıncı: “It’s now time to make the decision”

President Mustafa Akıncı has stated that he has evaluated the work he has done with the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades up until today, and that the negotiators have conveyed their progress on the issue of property. He said that it is now time to make a decision.

The President made the statement following his latest meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades, on his return to the presidential palace, which stated that the now second year of negotiations had come to an end.

The statement explained that the leaders gave instructions to the negotiators on what should be done in advance of the next meeting to be held on 17 May, stating that the negotiators would come together a few times and work intensively until that meeting.

Indicating that more than 60 leaders’ meetings and more than 150 negotiators’ meetings had been held in 2 years, Akıncı said that numerous committees have been working on many areas during this period.

Akıncı expressed that there were some outstanding issues in the negotiation process, and that the leaders should make a decision about whether or not they will reach an agreement.

Stating that the material that they had accumulated now brought them to the decision stage, Akıncı stated that there was a time table even if the name was not given.

Reiterating that the Turkish Cypriot side’s determination to find a solution is well known and it has been proved many times, President Akıncı underlined the importance of policy determination, political will and the need to prove them rather than a time.

Akıncı added that if this required, political determination will be displayed in the forthcoming period, because no one wants these efforts to fail.

Akıncı expressed his wish that the days ahead bring good news, adding that he is also responsible for sharing even the negative news with the people of the TRNC.