Brussels, 05/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - Following the resignation of the coalition in power in the northern part of Cyprus, the president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (an entity only recognised by Turkey), Mustafa Akinci, called on Tuesday 5 April for the formation of a new government “as quickly as possible”, so that the reunification talks with the southern part of the island might be continued.
On Tuesday, the prime minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Omer Kalyoncu, told Akinci that he was resigning from government after the withdrawal of the National Unity Party (UBP) from the coalition the previous day over differences of opinion on economic issues - particularly on the distribution of water channelled to the northern part of the island from neighbouring Turkey.
At the end of this meeting about Kalyoncu's resignation, Akinci announced that he would contact the leaders of the political formations of the government of the northern part of the island “immediately” in order to form a new government. “It's important in order to resolve the internal issues but also for the discussions we are conducting” with the Republic of Cyprus, he said. Akinci also tasked Kalyoncu with continuing to deal with current business with the ministers of his Turkish Republican Party (CTP - Left) in the interim period.
Relaunched in May 2015 by the president of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, and his counterpart from the northern part of the island, Akinci, the talks on the reunification of Cyprus have been stepped up since November 2015 with the support of the UN, the EU and the USA. Turkey recently spoke of its hope of reunification for the island this year.
During a visit to Cyprus on 29 March, the president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, met Anastasiades and Akinci and spoke of his hopes for the reunification of the island. He promised the EU would support reunification “from the first day” (see EUROPE 11520). (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)