Akıncı: “We do not intend to pursue open-ended negotiations for another 50 years”

President Mustafa Akıncı has stated that the Turkish Cypriot side have no intention of making the mistake of renouncing UN parameters, but nor will they engage with or pursue open-ended negotiations for another 50 years.

Speaking at a conference entitled “Cyprus – Past to Present” at Yeditepe University in İstanbul, President Akıncı gave an assessment of the negotiation process thus far and the latest developments following the Crans Montana summit.

Akıncı stated that the three fundamental elements of any solution from the Turkish Cypriot perspective are “equality, freedom, and security”. The President also emphasised that “any agreement that does not include these three factors is not a solution for us.”

Reiterating that all parties involved in the process came together in Mont Pelerin, Geneva, and Crans-Montana respectively, Akıncı said, “Unfortunately, we still have not reached a result at the end of all these meetings.”

Akıncı also stated that there are clear reasons why the Cyprus negotiations have not reached a settlement: “The Greek Cypriot side does not want to concede the state organs and the administrative power they seized many years ago, by sharing political equality with the Turkish Cypriot side. This is the fundamental summary of the subject.”

As well as observing that campaigning for the Greek Cypriot presidential elections in 2018 started very early, Akıncı noted that ongoing hydrocarbon explorations have the potential to trigger new tensions, and that this issue is also on the agenda.

Akıncı reiterated that the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey’s stance were flexible and solution-oriented in Crans-Montana and during other key summits, however the Greek Cypriot side unfortunately did not demonstrate the same flexibility or commitment to a solution.