There is no pre-agreement on time frameworks either with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci or with any superpower such as the US, Germany, the UK, or France, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said on Tuesday evening in a televised interview with the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT).
Anastasiades, who is in Athens, to participate in the Greece-Cyprus-Egypt Tripartite Meeting, noted that there has been progress in the negotiations on the Cyprus problem, however there are still obstacles and distance that needs to be covered.
There is reserved optimism, since progress has been recorded, however obstacles remain, and there are problems and distance on serious issues, Anastasiades said.
Invited to say if parliamentary elections scheduled to take place, in Cyprus, in May 2016, could be suspended because a solution may be reached by March, the President said there is reserved optimism that there is political will, particularly for Turkey to contribute, moving from words to action, in solving “problems we face and concern her.”
“There is a possibility to find solutions but there are still many details, there are obstacles regarding territorial adjustments, the property issue, the withdrawal of Turkish troops. There is still distance to cover and what is said about March is way too optimistic,” he added.
Referring to the Annan plan, that was rejected in 2004 by the majority of Greek Cypriots, Anastasiades said that the plan will not be put forward again. He stressed that his concern is to make the 76% of the Greek Cypriots who rejected the Annan plan to accept a settlement plan, by meeting the Greek Cypriots concerns, which he has always considered justified, despite any possible disagreement he may have had, as he noted.
Anastasiades rejected criticism by political parties in Cyprus that he is working towards the dissolution of the Republic of Cyprus, noting that there is no such issue. He noted that what they are talking about is the evolution of a unified state to a federal one.
As regards the ongoing UN-led negotiations, Anastasiades said that it must be realized by everyone that this is a give and take process.
He noted that forty one years after the Turkish invasion and the division of the island “a settlement cannot be an absolutely just one. If we want a settlement, we must have in mind that it must be balanced and meet the concerns of both sides.”
Referring to the Tripartite Meeting, Anastasiades said that its aim is the prevailence of conditions of cooperation in the broader region, with the participation of other countries as well. He commended Greece`s role on energy issues and assessed that the future discovery of natural gas reserves will make energy connection with Europe attainable.
Asked about the relations between Israel and Egypt, Anastasiades assured that he maintains excellent relations with the leaders of both countries, something which allows him to play the role of the mediator with a view to bridge their differences.
Responding to another question, the President made it clear that Nicosia will not participate in Russia`s military operations against ISIS in Syria.
Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci have been engaged in UN-led talks since May this year, with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.
