President Mustafa Akıncı has emphasized that opportunities for a  fruitful negotiation process will arise  if the Greek Cypriot side gives up its “zero troops zero guarantee approach”.

President Mustafa Akıncı was speaking at a press conference at Ercan Airport ahead of his departure to Ankara.

Akıncı stated that the Turkish Cypriot side has frequently asserted that the new negotiations, which will start on 28 June in Switzerland, will be the last stop for the process, and that this view is shared by the UN and the US Vice President Mike Pence.

Stating that Turkey have always supported the process, Akıncı said that he will hold meetings with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan regarding the Cyprus Conference in Crans-Montana.

Akıncı said that he briefed the leaders of the political parties on the common document prepared by the UN Special Advisor Espen Barth Eide about the issues around Security and Guarantees, and that the document contains the questions and answers presented by the sides during the conference in Mont Pelerin, as well as their concerns and perspectives. Stating that this document does not include offers for a solution, Akıncı said that it will serve as a guideline of the methodology to be followed in Crans-Montana.