Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (14.10.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has called on the universities in the occupied and the government-controlled area of Cyprus to cooperate. Speaking at the first lecture of the illegal Near East University (“DAU”) for the academic year 2015-16, Akinci alleged that the Greek Cypriots should get rid of what he called as “obsession” that cooperating with the Turkish Cypriots will help in the recognition of the “TRNC”, the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. Akinci claimed that the cooperation to be carried out between the communities in the cell phones field is also encountered with the “obsession for recognition”.
Referring to the process prior to the Annan Plan referendum in 2004, Akinci argued that if the process had been administrated in more wisely, “both sides would be members of the EU or the accession of the one side only would have been prevented”.
Recalling the views that are in favour of other options outside the federal solution in Cyprus, Akinci showed the example of Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabah and said that special situations exist for every country. He argued that there are people within both the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot community who will reject even the best solution.
Akinci said that when he had recently stated that negative consequences may come up if the natural resources are not wisely used, some circles in the Greek Cypriot side misunderstood this warning. He noted that if the natural gas is wisely used, it will contribute to the development of the relations between the countries of the region. He further argued that bringing water [from Turkey] which could be used by both communities of the island could “very seriously” contribute in their relations. Akinci noted that the technical work for interconnecting the electricity networks in Cyprus is continuing and argued that the electricity which will come from Turkey could reach to the Middle East.
The Turkish Cypriot leader said that they are committed to a bi-communal, bi-zonal solution adopting the EU principles and added: “I have repeatedly explained what I understand of bi-zonality. This is a structure in which the Turkish Cypriots will have the clear majority of property and population, they will be the masters of their own area and administrate themselves within the framework of the rules of the constitution”.
Expressing the view that the cooperation between the universities and education should be discussed in the negotiations, Akinci alleged that the education especially in the government-controlled area of the island is alienating the communities and showed as example the situation in the English School in Nicosia. He argued that the curricula should be discussed with a “new point of view”.
Akinci said that the preparations for the Turkish Cypriots passing to the Euro together with the solution will start. He added that upon demand submitted by the Turkish Cypriots, the establishment of a committee composed by persons appointed by the EU Commission was decided. He noted that the experts will primarily come for the issues of passing to the Euro and the customs union and will work together with “TRNC officials”.
Explaining that they have launched the procedure for harmonizing the Turkish Cypriot founding state with the EU laws, Akinci said that they have convinced both the EU and the Greek Cypriots on this issue.
Greek Cypriots should get rid of their “obsession” that cooperating with the Turkish Cypriots will help in the recognition of the “TRNC”
