Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci said late on Saturday that he wants a “political solution” on Cyprus before 2017, reported Anadolu Agency.
“Our aim is to reach a political solution before 2016 ends,” Akinci told journalists after his 20 minute meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the UN General Assembly in New York.
“I believe that this meeting and hopefully tomorrow’s meeting will be very important in the sense that [it] will pave the way, a way which will carry us to the long way to the final conclusion of the 50-year problem which exists in Cyprus,” outlined Akinci.
“[Ban] reiterated his personal commitment to our process and he repeated he is available anytime during the last phase of his tenure,” added the Turkish Cypriot leader.
Akinci, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Ban are scheduled to meet later on Sunday.
According to a readout issued by the UN, Ban “welcomed the significant progress achieved by the two leaders in the past year as well as their joint statement issued on September 14, 2016.
“He was encouraged by the determination and commitment demonstrated by the two leaders as well as the atmosphere of mutual trust, determination and goodwill in and surrounding the talks.“
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and illegally occupied the island’s northern third. Repeated peace talks have so far failed to reach a negotiated agreement to reunite the country.
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