Roundup: Cypriot President less optimistic on outcome of peace negotiations despite progress

Cyprus's President Nicos Anastasiades reported further progress on Saturday in his peace negotiations with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.

However, Anastasiades sounded less optimistic than before on the prospects of concluding a deal to end the island's long standing division when they conclude their talks next Wednesday.

He said they discussed points of disagreement on the issue of governance and power sharing between Greek and Turkish Cypriots in a reunified state under a federal umbrella.

"We made further progress on pending issues," he said.

The two leaders have two further meetings on Monday and Wednesday to go in their scheduled meetings before they conclude an intensive brainstorming round of talks.

Anastasiades said that on Wednesday they will proceed with future planning "in order to reach convergences in all pending issues."

They are expected to touch upon the thorny chapters of security arrangements and territorial adjustments on which Turkey has a strong say.

Turkish troops have been in control of 37.5 percent of the territory of Cyprus, much more than the Turkish Cypriot population ratio of about 20 percent, after a 1974 military operation in reaction to a coup by Greek army officers.

Asked if he is optimistic about the outcome of the negotiations, Anastasiades said: "I am cautiously optimistic, since there are difficult issues that we need to overcome. If we do, I'll be very optimistic."

The Cypriot President sounded reserved on the prospects of concluding a deal soon after moves and statement by the Turkish side which he said were not in line with a genuine will for a solution.

He cited Turkey's demand to keep guarantee rights on Cyprus and a decision earlier this week by the Turkish Cypriot administration of the occupied territory to stick to summer time along with Turkey, instead of following the Cypriot state and all other European countries in reverting to winter time.

This will have the effect of the two sides in Cyprus having a different time.

Anastasiades told Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos at a meeting in Athens on Friday which was beamed by Cypriot state television that the Turkish Cypriot decision does not augur well.

"It is an indication that Turkey wants to keep control on and manipulate Turkish Cypriots and through them Cyprus after a solution. But we won't consent to turning the Cyprus Republic into the protectorate of any power," he said. Endit