Cyprus: Turkish, Greek leaders talk building confidence

LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Turkish and Greek leaders of the divided island of Cyprus met in the UN Green Zone on Tuesday to discuss “confidence-building measures” between the two communities.

Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades met under the auspices of UN Cyprus Envoy Elizabeth Spehar, according to a statement from the mission.

The two leaders agreed on a number of issues to increase confidence, including the interoperability of cellphone networks and electrical grids as well as clearing hazardous areas. 

On confidence-building measures, Akinci and Anastasiades “committed to intensifying the work of the Technical Committees with the objective of improving the daily lives of all Cypriots,” the statement read.

“The two leaders decided to implement the confidence-building measure regarding mobile phone interoperability through separate agreements of the operators on both sides with a hub based in Europe, in order to facilitate greater interaction between the two communities,” the statement said. 

Akinci and Anastasiades also announced a 2015 deal on the interconnectivity of the two electricity grids has now been achieved, according to the statement. 

They also “agreed to the clearance of nine suspected hazardous areas on both sides of the island, with a view to working towards a mine-free Cyprus,” the statement added.

In a press conference, Akinci said he discussed with Anastasiades implementing confidence-building measures already agreed on.

He said he exchanged views on the issue of extending the jurisdiction of founding states, in a possible solution to the Cyprus issue and talked about soldiers working to clear nine minefields on both sides of the island.

"The actual target is clearing the whole island of mines," Akinci added.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by violence against the island's Turks and Ankara's intervention as a guarantor power. 

It has seen an on-and-off peace process in recent years, including the failed 2017 initiative in Switzerland under the auspices of guarantor countries Turkey, Greece and the U.K.