A solution based on injustice would be doomed, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said on Friday evening, addressing an event in Pafos, adding that he asks that the rights of the Greek Cypriot community are respected too.

“Turkish Cypriots must understand that they should demonstrate the same sensitivity we show over their concerns,” he added.

He replied to Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci`s statement, with regret, as he said, that the Greek Cypriot community “should understand what a federation is.”

“We know what a federation is all about, we know what democracy means, we know and we make an effort to overcome problems, we know what mutual respect means,” he pointed out.

The Turkish Cypriot community must understand that in order for a solution to be accepted by both communities they need to show the same respect towards the Greek Cypriot community as we show for them, he said.

President Anastasiades recalled that the Greek Cypriot side has accepted the painful compromise of a bizonal bicommunal federation.

It is well known, he added, that more compromises will have to be made in order to achieve a settlement.

Instead of building a state which will collapse the day after, it would be better to insist on dialogue and on the positions which will create the prospects and the conditions for peace, reunification and the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops.

“We need to create the conditions which will, at long last, not differentiate Cypriot citizens from other European citizens,” he added.

Turkish Cypriots need to understand that peace is built if there is respect of the basic principles and values and human rights, President Anastasiades said.

He reiterated that time consolidates faits accomplis that that unfortunately it does not work in favour of achieving the best possible conditions.

The President criticised Turkey`s “continuous effort” to change the demographics and the cultural heritage of Cyprus` northern Turkish occupied areas.

“What we ask for is for our rights to be respected too,” he stressed.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN backed talks are ongoing aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof.