According to illegal Bayrak television (09.04.16) Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci prior to his visit to Germany gave an interview to Germany’s International broadcasting corporation Deutsche Welle where he gave his evaluation regarding the Cyprus problem, Turkey and the EU relations.
Akinci pointed to the importance of 2016 and noted that the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades, the UN, the EU, Turkey and Greece all agreed that this year could be the year of a solution.
Despite all the difficulties, Akinci said there were no major problems that prevented a solution from being realized and added that the situation on the island was neither all lavender and roses nor complete darkness.
“Out of the 6 chapters, serious progress has been achieved on 4, but of course we do have some serious problems but we aim to overcome these problems and gain momentum in the second half of the year”, said Akύncύ.
Referring to the local elections that will take place in “south” Cyprus, as he called the Republic of Cyprus next month, Akinci expressed the belief that momentum will be gained after the elections have been completed and they will work so that 2016 will be the year of a solution on the island.
“As long as the Turkish Cypriot people are not an equal part of a federal structure to be formed, then the EU will continue to be short and unfulfilled. We want the EU to be rid of this wrong and we believe that a Cyprus that has no boundaries within itself and the formation of a united federal Cyprus will be beneficial to all’, Akinci added.
Explaining that experts from the European Union had come to the island to aid in preparing the Turkish Cypriot “people” for EU harmonization once an agreement is reached, Akinci said that up until now this level of contacts had not taken place and for the first time such intense contacts had been held between the EU and the Turkish Cypriot side.
Referring to the contacts he will be holding in Germany next week, he reiterated the Turkish Cypriot side’s desire to find a solution to the Cyprus problem and added that he wanted to reach an agreement that would protect the “peoples’” rights on the island and allow them to take their rightful place within Europe and the world.
He said that a solution to be found should be assimilated by the two leaders on the island, accepted and approved by the majority of the “people” on the island when taken to a referendum.
“Of course Turkey has some weight on the island we can’t deny this. The military is here and it has economic contribution to the island. And a subject where Turkey will be involved is the issue of security and guarantees that is why we will take up that issue last. If we get a good outcome from the other chapters I believe we can reach an agreement on this issue as well”, Akinci argued.
Akinci: “2016, year for a Cyprus solution”
