Zeki Çeler: Peace and Harmony Are Our Future on This Island

The meeting, led by Stefanos Stefanu from AKEL, took place at the TDP headquarters and lasted for an hour, after which both leaders made statements.

Çeler highlighted the significance of global peace and the ongoing developments in Cyprus and the Middle East discussed during the meeting. He expressed hope that the increasing dialogue and cooperation between Turkey and Greece would pave the way for peace on the island. In this regard, Çeler noted the decision to collaborate with parties sharing similar views to ensure that Cyprus can once again become an island of peace, where people live with equal democratic rights within the framework of international law.

Çeler also mentioned discussions regarding the citizenship issues faced by Turkish Cypriot children born from mixed marriages, reinforcing the importance of peace, dialogue, and collaboration in Cyprus. He pointed out that this was his first meeting with AKEL, emphasizing the necessity of continuing bilateral dialogue: "We have no other place to go; living in peace and harmony on this island is our most important future."

In his remarks, AKEL General Secretary Stefanos Stefanu thanked both parties for the meeting. He noted that both parties share a common vision for a bi-communal, bi-zonal federal solution to the Cyprus problem, aimed at overcoming the current impasse.

Stefanu highlighted that the timing of the meeting coincides with significant developments, including discussions in New York about opening new crossing points and the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' initiative for a five-party meeting. He reiterated AKEL's clear position advocating for negotiations to resume from where they left off in Crans Montana in 2017, with the negotiation framework preserved and outstanding issues discussed within the "Guterres Framework."

Additionally, he pointed out that the two parties discussed the necessity of revitalizing both the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities to move towards a solution, considering the prevailing pessimism since 2017. The developments in the Middle East affecting the Cyprus issue were also addressed, with both parties condemning Israel's policies against Palestine. Finally, they expressed belief that the positive dialogue initiated between Greece and Turkey would contribute to resolving the Cyprus problem.