Under the title “The solution is close”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.06.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci gave positive messages yesterday on the issue of reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem after his half-hour meeting with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York. In statements to the press at the UN headquarters, Akinci argued that with the existing climate and what he called as the wish of the Turkish Cypriots for a lasting and viable solution, a mutually acceptable solution could be reached in months not years.
“I am leaving here today with a positive climate. I believe that this positive climate will help in reaching a solution in Cyprus within the forthcoming months”, he said.
Akinci noted that the leaders discussed various issues and convergences, but the sides have agreed that certain issues such as the territory and the guarantees will be discussed towards the end of the process. “It is not correct that the territory issue will be discussed on 17 June”, he added.
Referring to his meeting with the UNSG, Akinci said that Ban was satisfied with what he heard from him.
Akinci alleged that Turkey has always contributed positively to the negotiations on the Cyprus problem and argued that what we need is Greece to gather its strength the soonest and contribute positively to the process like Turkey. He said that during his visit to Ankara and the meetings he has held with the Turkish President and the Prime Minister, he saw that they approach positively a possible agreement on the island and support the process. Noting that in spite of the fact that the forthcoming elections in Turkey are an internal matter, Akinci expressed the belief that whoever wins the commitment and the contribution to the solution process in Cyprus will continue.
Akinci further noted that they [the leaders] will try to hold more productive negotiations and make everybody’s life easier by working on more productive confidence building measures.
The Turkish Cypriot leader said also that he asked for the UNSG’s support on the issue of the minefields, adding that they need the help of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) for correctly establishing the minefields.
Reiterating that we need to give hands and dance the Turkish halay or the Greek syrtaki dances, Akinci noted that what we need is for everybody, not only the sides in Cyprus, but the UN, the EU, the guarantor powers and the entire international community to advance towards a solution in harmony by holding hands.
Replying to a question, Akinci said that it is the first time that two leaders who had voted yes to the Annan Plan are at the negotiating table and pointed out that his vision for a solution continues to exist, expressing the hope that the same is valid for President Anastasiades as well.
Referring to the hydrocarbons issue, Akinci said that he sees this issue as a “valuable property” which will bring benefit to all sides on a “win-win principle”. He argued that the wisest thing to do is to be prepared for the future instead of quarrelling for something the quantity of which is unknown. He added: “In parallel to using these resources in the financing of a possible solution, we could carry them to Europe with a pipeline through Turkey together with Israel’s gas. And this is the most appropriate method”.