Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Yoannis Kasulidis voiced caution and skepticism over a rotational presidency in a federal framework, a key ingredient in the proposed solution to the negotiations in Cyprus, and struck a defiant tone over the prospect of Turkey’s accession to the EU, stating that Turkey cannot be accepted into the EU before the island is reunified.

Speaking to the Simerini daily in Greek Cyprus, Kasulidis said a rotational presidency, which foresees a Turkish and Greek president in rotation, is not fair. “A rotating presidency determined by only one community is not a fair solution. But it is also not right to strip any citizen from any community of their right to vote for a president,” he stated.

The leaders of Turkish and Greek Cyprus, Mustafa Akıncı and Nikos Anastasiades, have been holding negotiations since May. Observers of the process, and UN Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide jubilantly, but cautiously, point to progress in talks aimed at ending the decades-old division of the island, while team of negotiators discuss technical details and engage in consuming debates over unresolved issues.

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