Newsroom / CNA
The absence of any developments in efforts to arrange a social encounter between Cypriot leaders to discuss future moves in the Cyprus issue is attributed to the procrastination of the Turkish Cypriot leader, according to the Greek Cypriot side.
After the reflection period that followed the failed attempt to reach a Cyprus settlement at the Swiss resort of Crans Montana, last summer, a social meeting is widely expected to take place between the President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, giving the opportunity to take stock of the stalled process and allow the two leaders to discuss future moves.
Ever since the collapse of peace talks in Switzerland relations between Anastasiades and Akinci have soured.
A reliable diplomatic source told CNA that, for the time being there does not seem to be any development with regard to this gathering, stressing that President Anastasiades has stated his readiness to attend a meeting with Akinci, outside the framework of the settlement process.
The purpose of the exercise, according to the same source, is to take stock of the state of play in the Cyprus problem and outline the intentions of the two sides with regard to future moves.
The Turkish Cypriot leader, the source noted, agrees in principle with this meeting, however, he disagrees with the timing and, “he says yes to an encounter, but in due course”.
The Greek Cypriot side believes that Akinci’s dithering is not unrelated to the EU-Turkey summit in Varna later this month, Turkey’s moves in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone and other factors.
All these, in addition to other issues, seem to explain why Akinci does not see any added value in such a meeting, the diplomatic source concludes.
The UN has said it is ready to facilitate a dinner date between the two to the ball rolling.
