The Cypriot government has called on Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leader to respond to President Nicos Anastasiades’ public challenge and relinquish their positions which are not in line with the status of a European Union member state.
Cyprus government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides, in a written statement on remarks that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci made on Tuesday, said that it is obvious that Akinci feels the need to make statements every day, in an attempt to attribute responsibility to the Greek Cypriot side.
This is precisely because of the Turkish side`s responsibility for the impasse in the [recent unification] negotiations at Crans Montana [Switzerland], he points out.
There is no doubt that “the negative outcome of the talks in Crans Montana was due to Turkey`s persistence on maintaining its guarantees and intervention rights in Cyprus, in addition to keeping a permanent military presence on the island,” Christodoulides stressed.
This, the Spokesman said, was confirmed in public statements made by both Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglou and Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami.
“We repeat for the umpteenth time that if Turkey and Mr. Akinci really want a solution to the Cyprus issue within the framework of the relevant UN resolutions and the principles and values of the EU, they should respond to the President’s invitation/challenge and abandon principles and positions that, under no circumstances, comply with the status of an EU member state”, he concluded.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. The latest round of the UN-backed Cyprus talks in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, ended inconclusively. The peace talks under the auspices of the UN aim at reuniting the island under a federal roof.
Source: CNA
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