Turkish PM wants 'fair and equal system' for Cyprus

By Ayse Humeyra Atilgan

ANKARA (AA) – Turkey’s prime minister said Tuesday there should be a “fair and equal” outcome to ongoing Cyprus reunification talks in Switzerland.

Binali Yildirim made the comment while addressing the 9th Ambassadors’ Conference in Turkey’s capital, Ankara.

"The communities' confidence in each other is not enough; all [procedures] should be guaranteed," Yildirim said.

He said the reunification talks should "establish a fair and permanent peace," between the two sides and added that Turkey, as the guarantor of Turkish Cypriots, had always contributed to the process and "will continue to do so."

Referring to a UN-brokered peace deal which was approved by Turkish Cypriots in 2004 but rejected by Greek Cypriot voters, Yildirim said: "Do not do the same thing this time."

His remarks came a day after the Cyprus talks resumed at the United Nations in Geneva with the participation of the Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci, Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades plus their delegations.

Three days of high-level talks regarding the divided island's future will be followed by an international conference on Thursday.

If a deal is reached on territorial changes, negotiators are expected to announce a date for a final summit between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders and three other states involved in the process as guarantor countries: Turkey, Greece and the U.K.