President Akıncı: “It is clear that we are at a junction”

President Mustafa Akıncı stated that his meeting with Greek Cypriot Leader Nikos Anastasiades on the 16th of April will be important to understanding whether the two sides will take the same path, or go their separate ways regarding the Cyprus issue. President Mustafa Akıncı spoke to reporters following his weekly meeting with Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman. Stating that the meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader later this month will not be a resumption of the negotiation process, Akıncı reiterated that there is currently no agreement on a further meeting, despite a Greek Cypriot government spokesperson mentioning possible second or third meetings. Akıncı said that the main purpose of this meeting is to overcome the difficulties which can arise when there is no dialogue for ten months. President Akıncı stated that the negotiation process is blocked on this issue of a rotating presidency, and that Anastasiades has not yet given an open or clear message to his community on this issue. The system of rotating presidency, whereby the role is held by a Greek Cypriot leader for two years and a Turkish Cypriot leader for one year, is essential for the Turkish Cypriot side.