GENEVA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish Cypriote leader said Friday that ongoing Cyprus negotiations must broker "mutually acceptable formulas" to ensure that both the Turkish and Greek Cypriote communities of the divided island feel secure.
This is seen as a deal breaker if any viable agreement is to be reached by rival delegations engaged in UN-facilitated talks since Monday.
"The five party conference is all about security and guarantees," said Turkish Cypriote leader Mustafa Akinci on the second day of an international conference on Cyprus.
"The reality is that Turkish Cypriotes want to feel secure, but we are in agreement that the security of one community should not be pursued as a threat to the other community," he added.
The conference follows three days of negotiations between Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart at Geneva's UN headquarters.
Involving the foreign ministers of the three guarantor powers -- Turkey, Greece and Britain, it is seen as a historic opportunity to broker a deal which could end decades of division.
Though much headway has been made this week, a number of sticking points including security and guarantees remain.
Around 30,000 Turkish troops are currently stationed in northern parts of the small Mediterranean island, while a small contingent of Greek forces are present in southern areas.
Akinci reminded that for decades now Northern Cyprus' security has been guaranteed solely by Ankara.
"Let us give time to this conference because we have agreed that there will be a technical committee that will start work on the 18th of January," he said.
"We need time. We can't have everything on day one," he cautioned.
Earlier on Friday, the UN Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, said that though a number of issues remained to be resolved, talks have yielded much progress.
He also confirmed that technical discussions are to kick off next week, and that these could lead to final negotiations which would take place "soon... maybe even in the course of this month".
Cyprus has been divided in two since 1974 after Turkish troops occupied the northern part of the small Mediterranean island in reaction to a coup by the military rulers of Greece at the time.
While the southern Greek Cypriot side is recognized by the international community and is a member of the European Union, only Turkey officially recognizes the break-away northern region.
Unusual Mars rock surprises rover scientist
Meat was main dish for early humans
Femen's topless protest tactics hit Paris(视频)
Early detection and treatment a must for glaucoma patients(视频)
Number of Chinese students in US dramatically expands
Maryland man is real hero behind 'Argo'
Rare fungal meningitis outbreak in United States
United Nations report urges
Obama calls human tafficking 'slavery'
New report outlines strategy for HIV/AIDS
American history: A new world clash of cultures
Consumer spending will decline unless Congress averts fiscal cliff
Many millions suffer from depression
Feed the soil, feed the crops
How to win a debate, Presidential or otherwise
Research grows through citizen science
Conflict presses Syrian economy
Effort underway to boost US voter participation(视频)
Musical legend Chuck Berry still reeling and rocking on stage at 86
Student street clinic helps homeless(视频)
Demand for wheat growing in Sub-Saharan Africa
When it comes to beer, variety rules in USA
Refugee camps are a breeding ground for disease
South pacific islands now totally powered by the sun
Interfaith worshipers celebrate sea, surf
'Haunted Houses' attract big crowds on Halloween
West Nile surge keeps exterminator busy
Arrests in the shooting of a Pakistani schoolgirl
Violin maker keeps family tradition alive
Schwarzenegger becomes policy analyst(视频)
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |