Akıncı: “As a Turkish Cypriot leader I would like to cooperate with all the European Union countries”
13 April, 2016The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit has begun
14 April, 2016
President Mustafa Akıncı had a meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Germany yesterday.
In his statement following the meeting, Akıncı said that for the first time Germany is showing such a great interest in the Cyprus issue. Adding that they have seen that Germany intends to develop their relations with the Turkish Cypriot side, Akıncı expressed that he had a chance to evaluate the stage reached in the Cyprus negotiations with Steinmeier.
Furthermore, stressing that Turkish Cypriots will be one of the equal sides of the Federal Cyprus, Akıncı said that it will be beneficial to develop the relations now.
Mentioning the elections to be held in South Cyprus, Akıncı said that the elections will slow down the negotiations that’s why if a solution is desired in 2016, we should enter a very speedy process as at the end of May.
Upon being reminded about the statement of the Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Volkan Bozkır “The Cyprus problem has not been solved although a long time has passed since the removal of the Berlin wall”, Akıncı said that Turkish Cypriots have done whatever is necessary at the referendum held in 2004 to destroy the wall between the two sides that’s why the reason of the current wall is not the Turkish Cypriots.
Referring to the issue of lifting visa requirements for Turkish Cypriots to pass to South Cyprus, Akıncı said that both sides will do whatever is necessary on the issue and the referendum will result with “yes” votes of both sides.