Greece urges Turkey to drop aggressive rhetoric

Prime minister says progress has been made on Cyprus

ATHENS // Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras said yesterday that progress had been made in ending a decades-old stalemate over the division of Cyprus, but urged Turkey to drop “aggressive rhetoric” to reach a deal.

“We are optimistic but with prudence and responsibility, as this situation merits, we will continue to work hard and hope we have positive results in the near future,” Mr Tsipras told the Greek parliament.

“A precondition to that is that the other side come to negotiations in similar spirit, putting aside aggressive rhetoric.” His remarks came as talks to reunify Cyprus resumed in Switzerland. The United Nations-backed negotiations in the alpine resort town of Mont Pelerin included Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot representatives as well as officials from Ankara, Athens and former colonial power Britain. Those parties were also in Geneva last week trying to reach a deal to end one of the world’s longest running political crises.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded in response to an Athens-inspired coup seeking union with Greece.

Greek Cypriot president Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci have been holding talks for nearly two years on how to forge a unified, two-zone federation. The larger group meeting in Mont Pelerin is focused on reforming Cyprus’s so-called “guarantor power” agreement, a 1960 deal that gives Britain, Greece and Turkey the right to intervene to defend the island’s sovereign integrity.

There is general consensus that the guarantor power system needs to change, although the fate of about 30,000 Turkish troops deployed on the island remains an obstacle.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Greece of “fleeing” efforts to reunite Cyprus and said last week that Turkey would not withdraw its forces from the island.