Cyprus Leaders Remain Hopeful For Peace Deal In 2016

Ankara, 12 Rabiul Akhir 1437/22 January 2016 (MINA) – Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders reiterated Thursday their commitment to reunite their divided island this year, and called for financial assistance from the international community.

Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci reiterated the “strong” determination of Turkish Cypriots to reach a settlement based on “bi-zonal federation with political equality as well as European values and principles”, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) reported, quoting Anadolu Agency.

“As two leaders who belong to the same generation, we are working tirelessly to achieve a mutually acceptable solution and we are aware that this is the last trial for uniting our island,” Akinci told the Reuniting Cyprus session at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades echoed the same sentiment.

“At a time when Europe is enduring a deep crisis, primarily linked to the tragic events unfolding in Cyprus’s immediate neighborhood, myself and Mustafa are working tirelessly to reunify our country,” Anastasiades said.

The Greek Cypriot leader noted that both parties have engaged since May 2015 in intensive negotiations to reach a settlement – negotiations that had resulted so far in convergences and common understanding on main issues.

“I believe that 2016 could be the year that we end the unacceptable status quo, provided always that we continue working with determination,” Anastasiades said, adding that it was important that all other stakeholders and interested parties constructively support the efforts in this regard.

“We do hope that we shall have the support of the international community at large, particularly with regards to substantially contributing to meet the financial aspects of the solution,” Anastasiades said.

Akinci, expressing “the urgent need” to work together to make 2016 the year marked by a Cyprus agreement, also called for global financial assistance.

Hydrocarbon resources

The two leaders also stated their belief that both communities should cooperate in the energy field.

Akinci said the newly-found hydrocarbon resources in the Eastern Mediterranean would act as “a source of peace, stability and cooperation rather than conflict and tension”.

“United Cyprus will be able to serve as a hub for pipelines transferring natural gas to the EU through Cyprus and Turkey which seems to be the most feasible route,” he said. “Fresh water from Turkey already brought to northern Cyprus can be shared by all inhabitants of the island and interconnectivity of electricity networks between the EU and the Middle East will become a reality via Cyprus and Turkey, which again seems to be the most efficient way.”

Anastasiades, for his part, said that the discovery of hydrocarbon in the region opened up new possibilities for cooperation and synergy.

“We strongly believe that energy cooperation in the region can transform the Eastern Mediterranean into a pillar of stability, security and peace while at the same time it can be a decisive factor to achieve energy security for the EU,” he said.

The eastern Mediterranean island was divided into a Turkish Cypriot state in the north and a Greek Cypriot administration in the south after a 1974 military coup by Greece was followed by the intervention of Turkey as a guarantor power.

In 2004, a referendum proposed by then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was held but reunification was rejected by the Greek Cypriot population.

Long-stalled negotiations to find a way to settle the conflict resumed last year following Akinci’s election in April. The talks restarted last May are focused on establishing a federal model. (T/P010/R07)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)