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Roundup: Leaders of Cypriot communities inch closer to end the island's partition

Xinhua, March 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

The leaders of the estranged Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities of Cyprus gave further indications on Friday that they are inching closer to an agreement reunifying the eastern Mediterranean island.

Cyprus' President Nicos Anastasiades, in his capacity as the leader of the Greek Cypriots, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci had a new meeting within the framework of negotiations they started in May 2015, aimed at ending the 40-year long partition of the island.

Anastasiades said after the meeting that they have started turning common ground into agreements.

"We have decided that common understandings among the two sides must gradually become convergences," he said.

"We'll continue with the talks in the same intensive way, with a view to achieve those things that will respond to the expectations of both communities," Anastasiades added.

UN Secretary-General's special adviser on Cyprus problem Espen Barth Eide, who presides over the negotiations, said ahead of Friday's meeting that there are issues on which the leaders have reached an understanding.

But he added that there is still much work to be done to find solutions on all important issues, including territorial adjustments and security arrangements.

Cyprus was partitioned when Turkey occupied its northern part in 1974, in reaction to a coup planned by the military rulers of Greece at the time.

It has also caused unsurmountable obstacles to Turkey's bid to join the European Union (EU), as Cyprus has blocked several crucial negotiating chapters after Ankara refused to recognize it as an equal EU member state.

Turkey demanded the opening of blocked chapters as part of its rewards offered by the EU earlier this week in Brussels for stopping refugees and migrants from leaving its shores in search of a better life in north European countries.

When asked if dismissal of Turkey's demand could pose a risk to arrangements on the migrants' issue, Anastasiades indicated that he would not back down.

"This is not our problem ... Those who have put forward this issue should undertake the task of convincing Turkey to meet its obligations in line with the Ankara Protocol or on the Negotiating Framework," said Anastasiades.

He told the Financial Times in an interview published on Friday that should he consented to the unblocking Turkey's negotiating chapters he would not ever return to Cyprus.

Anastasiades also said European Council President Donald Tusk may soon visit Cyprus to get involved in the efforts to reach a settlement. Endit