Türkeş: “It is not to the benefit of anyone if the Cyprus problem enters an open-ended and unresolved cycle without any timelines”
21 July, 2016Leaders to meet again today
22 July, 2016Speaking at the Peace and Freedom celebrations on 20 July, President Akıncı expressed his belief that both sides bear a serious responsibility to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.
President Akıncı said, “In the event we do not find a solution in 2016, initiatives to start drilling for natural gas in early 2017 will result in mounting tension across the island.”
The President affirmed that it is also important for all Turkish Cypriots that Turkey continues to develop as a modern, democratic and secular state, according to the principles of Atatürk. This, he noted, is necessary for stability in the region.
There is an intensive period of negotiations ahead, President Akıncı declared, and there will be 3 more Leaders’ meetings in the last week of July. According to the President, their goal in these meetings is to reach a consensus on the current points of divergence, with a view towards finding a solution by the end of 2016.