Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has warned of a possible recognition of the illegal regime if the Cyprus talks ended because of the Greek Cypriot side.
“I`m not ready to create illusions and see my country divided or the occupation and the unacceptable status quo continue. What worries me is that if the negotiations are terminated due to our fault, the next step will be the recognition of the illegal regime in Cyprus` northern part” the President told the audience at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs where he delivered a speech on Tuesday.
Asked whether he worries that a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation could lead to two separate states, he noted that the high-level agreements of 1977 and 1979 clearly state that the intended solution is a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality, as defined by numerous resolutions of the Security Council. He also referred to the Joint Declaration of February 2014.
“Negotiations are not conducted between two sovereign states, as the then Turkish Cypriot leader, Eroglu, a hardliner, wished” Anastasiades said, noting that it is a bi-communal dialogue aiming at the Republic of Cyprus evolving into a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal state.
“The status quo which is of course unacceptable, has changed some of the substance of the solution we are looking for. Greek Cypriots are selling their properties because they lack hope that a solution is possible. Religious and cultural sites are being destroyed. The demographic distribution in the northern part changes daily. Thousands of settlers have been transferred by Turkey deliberately” the President said, stressing that this has to stop, otherwise there will be a day that the whole country will be found under Turkish occupation.
The President underlined that a win win solution must be found, but most importantly a solution that will respect the human rights of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. “We must ensure the implementation of the four freedoms, but also the rights of refugees, their right to return to their properties. And the withdrawal of the occupation troops. This is the only way to peace” he stressed.
Anastasiades noted that the US can exert pressure on Turkey as they did in the past, to have a more active role and encourage Turkish Cypriots to reach a solution.
Cypriot President and his entourage on Tuesday flew from Chicago to New York where he will have important meetings, mainly with the US administration – the US Vice President Joe Biden on September 29 and the Secretary of State John Kerry on September 26.
The President will also participate in the 70th General Assembly of the United Nations.
Upon his arrival to New York Anastasiades told the press that during his meetings he will exchange views with his interlocutors on the Cyprus talks and the various problems that arise, given that they have entered “key phase”.
The President`s contacts start Wednesday with a luncheon he will host for the Permanent Representatives of the five permanent members of the Security Council. Late in the evening he will meet with Archbishop Demetrios and will attend a dinner hosted by the Federation of Cypriot American organizations.
On Saturday afternoon he will meet with US Secretary of State, John Kerry, the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.
On the same day he will address the UN Summit on the adoption of the Development Agenda after 2015.
On September 29 he will be meeting with US Vice President Joe Biden.
His schedule includes also meetings with Russia`s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Greece`s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Egypt`s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
He will also deliver a speech at the Brookings Institution and meet with the leadership of the American-Jewish Committee.