Akinci: We have to ensure that the Greek Cypriot “no” vote of 2004 turns into “yes” and the Turkish Cypriot “yes” remains unchanged
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (18.12.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has said that they do not want the situation experienced during the Annan Plan to be repeated and added that “we have to produce such an agreement that both the Greek Cypriots’ ‘no’ vote turns into ‘yes’ and the Turkish Cypriots’ ‘yes’ vote remains unchanged”.
In statements yesterday during a meeting with a delegation from Turkey’s Building Constructors Union, Akinci noted that this is not an easy job, that they are expecting it to be a difficult process and that the road they follow has ups and downs, but the picture is neither black nor rosy.
The chairman of the Turkish Building Constructors’ Union, Mithat Yenigun said that they visited the occupied area of Cyprus to sign a protocol of cooperation with the Turkish Cypriot Building Constructors. He noted that they wish to establish consortiums and spread all over the world, adding that they are active in 104 countries until now.
Akinci said that this cooperation bears exceptional importance during this period for Cyprus, that the process of building Cyprus’ future is being experienced and that all they wish is for the negotiations to be concluded with a peace agreement acceptable by both sides.
He noted that they realize that new horizons will open with the early solution of the Cyprus problem and that Turkey’s EU accession process will be speeded up. He argued that Turkey’s good relations with the EU benefit Cyprus as well.
Akinci expressed the view that if a reasonable way is found for exploiting the energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean everybody will win and if a mistake is committed restlessness will be experienced. He argued that the reasonable way is for the Israeli and Cypriot natural gas to be united and transferred to Europe through Turkey.
Referring to the water transferred to the occupied area of Cyprus from Turkey, Akinci described it as “a new scenario by which all sides may gain”.