Akinci’s statement is a repetition of a long-standing Turkish Cypriot position
Statement by Toumazos Tsielepis, member of the Political Bureau and Head of the Bureau on the Cyprus problem of the C.C. of AKEL
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 16th May 2016, Nicosia
The proposal of Mustafa Akinci for a new way of conducting talks in essence is a repetition of the long-standing Turkish Cypriot position that with the successful completion of the negotiation on all the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem a five-party conference should be convened on security and guarantees.
Where some change has been observed in the Turkish Cypriot side’s position is that in July the discussion of the territorial issue can begin. This can be interpreted in two ways: either that significant progress has been recorded with regards the property issue or that the Turkish Cypriot side has at last realized that without a substantive discussion on the territorial issue as well it will be difficult to get within range of a convergence on the property issue.
Whichever of the two is true, the negotiation of all the internal aspects must be successfully completed and then a representative international conference should subsequently be convened with the participation of the Republic of Cyprus and the two communities, the guarantor powers, the UN Security Council and the European Union in order to discuss the international aspects of the Cyprus problem.
The Turkish Cypriot leader’s assessment that it is the last chance for a federal solution must surely be the subject of reflection. We avoid speaking about a last chance. At the same time, however, we are aware of the harsh reality. That is to say, the irrepressible passage of time erodes our just goals, especially with regards the property and territorial issues, as well as on the issue concerning the withdrawal of the settlers.
The next few months will be critical for the fate of the current negotiation procedure: either the current situation is exploited for a solution, or the negotiation procedure collapses. It is at that moment that we have to foresee if and when the next conjuncture will come.
