The Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozil Nami in relevant statements set as a prerequisite for the resumption of negotiations, on the one hand the setting of time frameworks and on the other hand the prior agreement on the status of the Turkish Cypriot side in case no solution is reached. As AKEL, we consider this position as both unacceptable and counterproductive.
What all sides must do is to adhere to the recommendations included in the recent report of the United Nations Secretary-General for the continuation of the procedure from the point where it was interrupted. The pressing need is the demonstration of readiness and determination by the parties to complete the procedure of the talks on the basis of the Guterres framework, as the UN Secretary-General is calling for and not the submission of preconditions by any side that will simply make the resumption of negotiations unfeasible.
Nicos Anastasiades and Nicolas Papadopoulos must also get in line with this framework, given that their insistence on procedural or substantive preconditions which both are putting forth will quite simply give the Turkish Cypriot offer the opportunity to do the same, resulting in the definitive burial of the prospect of resuming the talks over the coming years.