08 February 2016•Update: 08 February 2016
LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Cyprus will be a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci told the country’s TAK news agency on Monday.
"Cyprus will be both a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, and it will also abide by the EU principles and values," said Akinci.
Regarding the statements of Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades that he did not accept a rotating presidency in Cyprus, Akinci said: "Unfortunately, the manner of the Greek side is a serious disappointment for us."
On May 28, Akinci and Anastasiades met at the UN's Good Office on the island, hosted by UN Special Adviser for Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide. During their talks, Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders had agreed on a five-step plan to resolve the Cyprus issue.
The proposed system involves a federal state with a rotating presidency.
The eastern Mediterranean island was divided into a Turkish Cypriot state in the north and a Greek Cypriot administration in the south after a 1974 military coup by Greece was followed by the intervention of Turkey as a guarantor power.
