Akıncı: “Criteria continuing to be discussed”

President Mustafa Akıncı attended the joint live broadcast of the Turkish Cypriot television channels. Akıncı stated that they have reached a consensus with the Greek Cypriot side on 22 titles regarding categorizing the affected properties, in the issue of property, adding that the issue of criteria is continuing to be discussed.

In his statement, President Akıncı also stated that they want to conclude the property issue in a short time that’s why the issue of criteria is very important at that stage. Expressing that the issue of guarantees must be discussed with the guarantor countries at the end of the negotiations after all issues have been discussed, Akıncı underlined that Turkish Cypriots give great importance to Turkey’s guarantee, and as a result of surveys conducted, Turkish Cypriot people will vote “no” if there is no guarantee of Turkey.

Mentioning the energy issue, Akıncı said that instead of making the subject of energy an issue of tension, it should be a project by which the two sides can get advantages.

Furthermore, stating that the issue of “weighted ballot” will be beneficial for bringing the two communities closer in Cyprus, Akıncı said that his attitude regarding the ‘rotating presidency’ has been reacted to by the Greek Cypriot side although this principle also took place in the Annan plan previously.

Adding that minesweeping was done at Lefke-Aplıç and Derinya checkpoints and the road has become ready for the construction, Akıncı said that there is not any certain date for opening of the checkpoints.

Akıncı stressed that the issue of mobile telephones is the only issue on which they could not reach a consensus, adding that Greek Cypriots consider the operators in the TRNC as illegal.