1. Akinci says that granting “citizenship” to 25,000 persons is not on their agenda
“A situation such as ‘let us give citizenship to 25,000 persons is out of the question. Such a thing does not exist on our agenda. It is also out of the question to have any approach which could blow up the negotiations in any way”.
Noting that they act in the negotiations according to the data provided by the “interior ministry” regarding the “citizenship”, Akinci added that they did not back step from any position and they do not intend to do so, because “we want a solution”.
Recalling a statement he made during his “election campaign” regarding the Turkish settlers saying that “we are not going to load on ships anyone and send him away”, Akinci said: “However, the citizenship issue is something different than loading on a ship. There is space for all of us on these lands. It is possible to find a way out for this problem without victimizing anyone […]We are staying away from any behavior which could negatively influence the negotiating process. We wish for the south as well to stay away from such behaviors like we do”.
Akinci noted that yesterday’s meeting was productive from the point of view of turning into “a full agreement” the agreements and the convergences reached until today on the first four chapters. He added that it is not possible to achieve progress in every meeting, but there is an “accumulation” born by the discussions for being able to achieve real progress. “I believe that there is an accumulation which will facilitate the achievement of progress”, he said.
Referring to information published in the Greek Cypriot press that the Turkish Cypriot side has stepped back from the agreements reached in the past, Akinci argued that such a thing is out of the question, because their target is to advance and reach a solution.
Akinci said that his next meeting with President Anastasiades will take place on 6 May. Recalling that parliamentary elections will be held in the government – controlled area of the Republic on 22 May, Akinci pointed out that in spite of this, the negotiators will be holding 10-15 meetings in May.
Arguing that if the wish is to take a solution plan to referendum in 2016, the negotiating process should be intensified, Akinci said: “It should be much speedier, more productive [negotiating process] in the new period, if we say that 2016 should be the year of the solution”.