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Roundup: Cypriot leaders say remained committed to reaching solution this year despite differences

Xinhua, September 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

The leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities of Cyprus are determined to reach a solution to reunify their split country this year despite differences on important issues, a press statement said on Wednesday.

"To this end, they will ask United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon ... to intensify his personal engagement in the Cyprus reunification process in the months to come," the statement said.

"Cognizant of the remaining challenges, the two leaders are committed to continuing and intensifying their efforts ... in the coming months with the aim of reaching a comprehensive settlement agreement within 2016," it added.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci are scheduled to meet the UN Secretary-General on Sept. 25 in New York.

The Secretary-General's special adviser on the Cyprus problem, former foreign minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide, in reading the joint statement, said "significant progress" had been made on many of the outstanding issues on governance and power sharing, economy, EU matters, and property.

"However, certain substantial divergences still remain," the statement added.

He mentioned security and guarantees, as well as territorial adjustments on which he said the two leaders exchanged views and positions in a brainstorming manner.

He was referring to security issues, including guarantee rights which Turkey invoked in 1974 to send soldiers to occupy over one third of Cypriot territory, in reaction to a coup by the military rulers of Greece at the time.

Greek Cypriots demand the abrogation of these guarantees and the withdrawal of about 40,000 Turkish soldiers.

"Although these initial exchanges have demonstrated that the respective views remain apart, there is a strong determination to resolve them in a mutually-acceptable manner," the joint press statement said.

Asked if he was optimistic about the prospects of a solution this year, Anastasiades said, "If they display the understanding for our security concerns like we did for their concerns, I'll be optimistic."

Earlier in the day, the European Union said it was willing to throw its weight behind efforts for the reunification of Cyprus.

"Europe is a driving force that can help bring about the unification of Cyprus -- something I am supporting the two leaders of Cyprus in. It has to be done and it has to be done now," said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker when addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Endit