Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has said that the territorial adjustment maps submitted in Geneva by the Greek Cypriot side and Turkish Cypriot side were different from those leaked to the press, Sigma’s correspondent in Istanbul has reported on Wednesday.
Akinci told Turkey’s TRT channel that the map was approved by all the political parties of the so called ‘parliament’.
“The map the Greek Cypriots submitted, cannot be accepted. No Turkish Cypriot would be able to accept such a map,” Akinci said.
On Tuesday, government spokesperson Nikos Christodoulides said that the territorial adjustment map submitted by the Turkish Cypriot side, did not match Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s description on Friday.
Earlier on Tuesday, Turkish government spokesperson Numan Kurtulmus said that the Greek Cypriot map submitted in Geneva was “unacceptable“.
ZERO GUARANTEES CANNOT LEAD TO SOLUTION
On the security and guarantees issue, Akinci noted that the Greek Cypriot position of “zero soldiers, zero guarantees” cannot lead to a solution.
He added that reports a country in the EU does not need guarantees is “not enough”.
“We can find clever ways out. One side [The Turkish Cypriot side] is concerned and we want security, other the people will not say ‘yes’ [to a solution],” Akinci said.
The Turkish Cypriot leader said that Turkey’s guarantees and some of the troops should remain as a rule. He added that in 2017 a discussion must occur on how to make this “rule” a reality.
ROTATING PRESIDENCY
On the issue of the rotating presidency, Akinci said that the model of the Turkish Cypriots governing one term and the Greek Cypriots governing two terms could be accepted.
ENERGY PROSPECTS
Regarding the natural gas and energy prospects after solution, Akinci said that all parties will be benefited, “especially Turkey”.
He added that instead of tensions in the areas, cooperation will arise.
However, Akinci added, that if the Greek Cypriot side says that the area belongs to them, than tension is sure to arise.
“The transfer of gas from the south through Turkey to Europe will create an energy pathway, which is important for Turkey and the [so called’ ‘TRNC’,” Akinci said.
On water being transported to the occupied areas from Turkey, Akinci said that the whole island will benefit and that “Greek Cypriot business people have realised that.”
Specialist teams of the three guarantor powers (Greece, Turkey, and the UK) are meeting alongside the Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis, his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Ozdil Nami, and EU representatives in Mont Pelerin on the security issue.
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