President Akıncı: “The TRNC will take its place in an honorable solution as an equal partner”

President Mustafa Akıncı said that the Turkish Cypriot negotiators have been working hard to reach a solution and they will continue to work for the TRNC’s development in all fields. Akıncı added that if the Greek Cypriot side is realistic and a solution is reached, the TRNC will take its place in an honorable solution as an equal partner.

Akıncı expressed that it is time to reach a solution, and that the time to make a decision is near. Akıncı also said that if the Greek Cypriot side does not control their maximalist behaviors and a settlement can’t be reached, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will continue in its current form.

In his speech made during the Republic Day ceremony on 15 November, which celebrated the 33^rd Anniversary of the Establishment of the TRNC, Akinci said that “Negotiations cannot continue for another 50 years. It is time for a decision  at the negotiations which have been undertaken with the close cooperation of Turkey for one and half years”.

“It would not be wrong to say that it is time to discuss the territory, security and guarantee issues as we are working to reach a settlement before the end of 2016. As I stated before going to Switzerland, if we reach a consensus on the criteria of the territory issue, both sides will prepare their maps, and at the same time, the date of five-party conference will be decided in the presence of the UN. The five-party conference will be held in a similar format to the Bürgenstock meetings where the Annan plan was negotiated, and the map and security issues will take shape there. The issues of security and guarantees will be discussed and determined with the participation of the guarantor countries” President Akıncı stated.

Furthermore, adding that as the Turkish Cypriot side, we pay attention to the sensitivities of the Greek Cypriots and we expect the same attitude by the Greek Cypriots, President Akıncı said that one of the two parameters of the Turkish Cypriots for equality is the Rotating Presidency and the other one is effective participation in the decision-making processes.