NEW convergences were made at the two leaders’ meeting, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci said on Friday, while branding EDEK leader Marinos Sizopoulos’ decision to disclose confidential National Council meeting minutes an effort to undermine the talks.
Returning to the northern part of Cyprus following a meeting with President Nicos Anastasiades, Akinci said that convergences on issues from various chapters were sought, and the work done by the two sides’ negotiators over the past few weeks was reviewed.
He repeated that territory, security, and guarantees, will be discussed at the final stage of the process.
Akinci said the meeting was productive, noting that he cannot say that all differences were bridged, but new convergences on some issues were made.
The Turkish Cypriot leader expressed his commitment to keep the effort going, and added that the effort for a successful conclusion will continue without being influenced by negative developments away from the negotiating table.
“I am sure you understand why I say this,” Akinci said.
“In the Greek Cypriot side, the latest statements by EDEK leader Marinos Sizopoulos do not contribute to the ongoing negotiations.”
He added that he is not trying to withhold information from the public, but the talks have a specific character, and that this was understood and respected for many years.
“Why Mr Sizopoulos acted this way is understandable,” Akinci said.
“This is a party that has denounced the bizonal, bicommunal federation.”
He added that, as the Turkish Cypriots’ elected leader, he will continue the process with a focus on the agreements and commitments undertaken to date, but will not announce any details with regard to the negotiations, expressing certainty that none of the so-called ‘MPs’ in the north would do what Sizopoulos did, as the goal is to find a mutually acceptable settlement.
Asked whether the Greek Cypriot side has tabled the issue of the return of Morphou, Akinci said no, and repeated that the issue of territorial adjustments will be discussed at the end.
Asked to clarify the citizenship categories, Akinci replied that what Sizopoulos said publicly “is not true”.
The Turkish Cypriot leader said that it is well-known that the federal court will comprise an equal number of judges from each community.
He added that there might be one category of people who will choose to live in an area without any legal settlement or voting rights, another group of people that will have a legal right to settle but limited voting rights (like Greek Cypriots living in the Karpas peninsula), and a third that will include people who can have the internal citizenship of the other constituent state, like Greek-speaking Turkish Cypriots.
On these issues no definitive agreement has been reached yet, but Akinci said that the two sides’ views are very close.
Akinci declined to give details on the new convergences, saying the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to announce details of the talks only if the two leaders – or their representatives – do so jointly.
He added that EDEK’s stance aims at undermining President Anastasiades and his party, as well as the parties that support a settlement to the Cyprus problem, in the upcoming election.
The Turkish Cypriot leader repeated the principle that “nothing has been agreed until everything has been agreed”, pointing out that significant progress and convergences have been achieved.
