By George Psyllides
Newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has asked President Nicos Anastasiades to prepare for a solution as the two sides gear up for a resumption of reunification talks.
In an interview with Turkish daily Milliyet, Akinci said Turkish Cypriots wanted to bury the Cyprus problem in history and create a united federal Cyprus.
Of Anastasiades, Akinci said he was also from Limassol like himself, a fellow Cypriot, and he urged him to use the opportunity to change the island’s bad fate.
Akinci said the problem should not remain unresolved for generations to come.
He said the result of last Sunday’s election was a revolution of the people.
“Our hope is to reach a result through the negotiations in the framework of political equality and a dialogue with Turkey,” Akinci said.
The Turkish Cypriot leader said a solution would also improve relations between Greece and Turkey. He also suggested that the region’s natural gas should go through Turkey.
“It would be a favourable development if the natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean was transferred to the EU through Turkey,” he said.
Regarding the Turkish settlers, an important issue for the Greek Cypriot side, Akinci said those who came many years ago, grew up and had kids, were considered part of the community.
“In the future I see them as citizens of the federal republic and the EU,” he said.
Akinci said it was not only the Turkish Cypriots but Turks also were tired of the Cyprus problem.
“We certainly will not give up our rights. Turkish Cypriots have the same rights as Greek Cypriots on the island,” he said.
During the interview Akinci also denied there was a crisis between him and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan over the ‘motherland’.
Akinci had said that rather than viewing Turkey as the ‘motherland’ Turkish Cypriots wanted ‘brotherly’ ties with Ankara, prompting a reprimand.
Speaking to Anadolu news agency, Akinci said “The love of motherland is in our hearts. It has an emotive meaning”.
He added: “These relations are needed… because the presence of the Turkish Cypriot community, who stand on their own feet and who want to have brotherly relations with Turkey, are not against Turkey.”
