President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, has said that he is cautiously optimistic about the outcome of the ongoing UN brokered Cyprus peace talks, clarifying at the same time that this depends on what will be agreed as regards the remaining two chapters of the negotiations.
Replying to journalists` questions on the sidelines of a memorial service, Anastasiades said “I will not be concerned with what (the Turkish Cypriot leader) Mr. Akinci says,” noting that “for me, what counts is what we submit as the Greek Cypriot side (on the negotiating table) not what the other community seeks to achieve.”
This is why, he explained, “I say that the solution will depend on the final outcome.”
Invited to say where his optimism for the final outcome stems from, he clarified that he did not speak aboutoptimism but rather abpit “cautious optimism” which as he added will depend on what will be agreed as regards the two last chapters of the negotiations.
The last two chapters concern the aspect of territory and the matter of guarantees.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. Peace talks between Anastasiades and Akinci are currently underway, with a view to find a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country under a federal roof.
CNA/EPH/MK/2016
Cautious optimism for the outcome of Cyprus talks
