1st LD Writethru: Cypriot president vows reunification solution to meet concerns of people

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades vowed on Friday that any agreement on the reunification of the partitioned eastern Mediterranean island will meet all expectations and concerns of the people.

"I want to stress and assure Greek Cypriots that no solution will be put before them if it does not satisfy their expectations and does not answer all their reasonable anxieties," said Anastasiades in a televised address.

Anastasiades was commenting on fears that the procedure decided overnight with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci aimed at concluding the negotiations at a conference in January will offer Turkey the opportunity to maintain guarantee rights over Cyprus.

Greek Cypriots are strongly opposed to the stationing of even one Turkish soldier on Cypriot soil and to any guarantee rights.

Anastasiades said that the decision to resume negotiations is a very important development that preserves the momentum towards a Cyprus solution and negates dangers resulting from a protracted deadlock or even a termination of the entire process.

Anastasiades and Akinci agreed to continue negotiations in Cyprus so as to gap differences on issues already discussed and to meet in Switzerland on January 9-11 to exchange maps reflecting agreements on territorial adjustment and the relocation of displaced Greek Cypriots.

A conference also involving Greece, Turkey and Britain will be convened in Geneva on January 12 to decide on security arrangements. Endit