NICOSIA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades on Monday expressed his regret over Turkey's statements that it will not take part in any Cyprus peace negotiations under the current terms.
Anastasiades said in an official statement issued by his office that the Turkish statements signal that Turkey would not return to the negotiating table unless the Greek Cypriot side accepts its preconditions.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has invited Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci to meet him in Berlin on Nov. 25 in a bid to agree on the terms for continuing reunification negotiations, which have been in a deadlock since July 2017.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a statement in the national assembly that "all vagueness regarding political equality between the two sides must first be clarified" before a new process starts.
Turkey wants Greek Cypriots to state ahead of any negotiations that they accept political equality, which, according to the Turkish side, means that Turkish Cypriots must give their consent for any state decision to be valid.
"I want to make it clear that under the threats and terms set by Turkey, not only the necessary climate cannot be created, but the effort underway by the (UN) Secretary-General is also being spoiled," Anastasiades said.
But he reaffirmed that the Greek Cypriot side has the political will to engage in a creative dialogue so as to agree on a functional and viable solution of the Cyprus problem without guarantors and the presence of foreign troops.
"Our aim was and still is the creation of a fully independent and sovereign state, that fully safeguards the human rights of the Cypriot people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, based on the principles and values of the EU (European Union)," he said.
