Akel General Secretary Andros Kyprianou travelled to Ankara on Thursday where he is to meet Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to ask about Turkey’s positions on security regarding the Cyprus problem.
Kyprianou, who met Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Athens on his way to Ankara, said that his aim was to hear from Cavusoglu Turkey’s position on security.
Kyprianou is in Ankara to participate in a discussion on Friday morning organised by the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (Tepav) on geopolitical developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus.
He is to meet Cavusoglu at 10.30am on Friday.
The Akel leader said on Wednesday that he had informed President Nicos Anastasiades and the National Council of his meeting with Cavusoglu.
He said he does not aspire to take the place of the Greek Cypriot negotiator and his aim is not to enter into negotiations with Cavusoglu. “I am interested in hearing from him their positions, mainly as regards security issues,” Kyprianou said.
He added that during the meeting he would convey Akel’s positions but also the longstanding decisions of the National Council on all issues concerning the Cyprus problem, including those of security.
During his meeting with Tsipras, Kyprianou “exchanged some views” ahead of his visit to Ankara.
Following the meeting, Kyprianou expressed his satisfaction about his discussion with Tsipras.
“We had a long and very meaningful meeting with the Greek Prime Minister, during which we exchanged views on the state of affairs with regard to the Cyprus problem. We reaffirmed our longstanding positions on the solution framework as well as the tactics that should be followed,” he said.
On whether there is concern about Turkey’s actions in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone, he said that his party was “worried about Turkish aggression and provocation and where this could lead to.”
“It is for this reason that we insist that Mr Anastasiades must reaffirm his willingness to resolve the Cyprus problem on a daily basis.”
The only way to “disarm” Turkey on this issue, he said, “is to appear convincing that we really want a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed framework and that we want it as soon as possible.”
Kyprianou is expected to present his conclusions from his contacts on Monday.
