{"id":284638,"date":"2017-01-13T15:33:16","date_gmt":"2017-01-13T15:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=284638"},"modified":"2017-01-13T15:33:16","modified_gmt":"2017-01-13T15:33:16","slug":"cyprus-talks-erdogan-dismisses-full-turkish-troop-withdrawal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/01\/cyprus-talks-erdogan-dismisses-full-turkish-troop-withdrawal\/","title":{"rendered":"Cyprus talks: Erdogan dismisses full Turkish troop withdrawal"},"content":{"rendered":"
Turkey’s president says a full withdrawal of its forces from divided Cyprus is “out of the question” unless Greece also agrees to pull out troops.<\/p>\n
Hopes of reunification have been raised after talks between Turkish and Greek Cypriots in Geneva this week.<\/p>\n
But a number of stumbling blocks remain, including whether any Turkish troops would stay in northern Cyprus after reunification.<\/p>\n
The island’s communities have been split since 1974.<\/p>\n
Key obstacles to a deal include the return of property to tens of thousands of Cypriots who fled their homes in 1974, as well as the presence of troops.<\/p>\n
Turkey still has 30,000 troops stationed in the island’s north, whose presence Greece opposes. On Friday, Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades reiterated a call for all Turkish troops to leave. Greece is thought to have about 1,000 troops stationed on the island.<\/p>\n
Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci said one side demanding that the other remove its troops would rule out a mutually acceptable solution.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had said discussions were “at a critical juncture” and that technical experts would now hold talks.<\/p>\n
The meetings are likely to begin on 18 January, with a focus on thorny security issues, reports say.<\/p>\n