Turkish Cypriot head blames Greek side for failed talks

By Murat Demirci

LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

The president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) early Wednesday blamed the Greek side for the failure of reunification talks to find a solution to the Cyprus issue.

Mustafa Akinci said talks in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland, were deadlocked due to Greek Cypriot insistence on the division of territory on the divided island.

He said Greek Cypriot negotiators had “proposed the final result that they wanted to see on territory at the first meeting and created this deadlock by insisting on this mistake.”

Speaking at Ercan Airport in TRNC, Akinci said the Greeks had taken a position on territory before agreeing on a rotating presidency and active participation on resolutions -- crucial topics for Turkish Cypriots.

“I tried to explain to them that we cannot accept efforts to bring Turkish Cypriots to a point where we cannot negotiate,” he added.

Negotiations between Akinci and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades ended Monday without a solution.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots were displaced when the island was first divided 42 years ago, a possible federalist agreement would mean redrawing existing boundaries and potentially moving thousands of residents from their homes.

Akinci said the Turkish Cypriot parliament would have an extraordinary meeting on Thursday to discuss the latest developments.

“We will continue our well-intentioned efforts and aim,” he told reporters. “However, I would like to underline that the Greek Cypriot side’s attitude is very important.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras are expected to meet in early December and Akinci said that meeting would contribute to the negotiation process.

“We are not going to flee from the negotiation,” he said, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side would not be the reason for failing to reach a solution.

Later Wednesday, the U.S. Vice President Joe Biden spoke with both Akinci and Anastasiades via telephone, and "encouraged the leaders to continue negotiations”.

According to a White House statement, Biden also expressed his confidence in the ability of the leaders "to secure a settlement that would reunify Cyprus as a bizonal, bicommunal federation to the benefit of all Cypriots."

Reunification discussions resumed in May 2015, and both sides have repeatedly expressed optimism that a solution can be found by the end of the year.

In a statement later on Wednesday, the British Foreign Office said the U.K. was ready to help find a sustainable peace in Cyprus.

“The U.K. fully supports the current settlement process and stands ready to help in any way it can in order to bring lasting peace to Cyprus,” the statement said.