Gov't issues on both sides 'may affect Cyprus talks: Ak?nc?

The recent fall of the government in Turkish Cyprus and the parliamentary elections in Greek Cyprus in May could have an impact on the United Nations-brokered peace talks on the divided Mediterranean island, Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Ak?nc? has told the Hürriyet Daily News. 

"[The government crisis in Turkish Cyprus] does not currently affect [the peace process] and we hope that it will not affect it," said Ak?nc? on April 7 on the sidelines of the 19th Eurasia Economic Summit organized by the Marmara Group Foundation in Istanbul.

"If the current situation turns into a crisis and elections are scheduled soon, this will affect [the talks]," he added. "If this process takes parliament to an early election, than I would choose for it to be done quickly so the structure to be formed is established as soon as possible," he said.

The government of Prime Minister Ömer Kalyoncu, which was formed in July 2015, collapsed on April 5, when Ak?nc? accepted the government's resignation and Kalyoncu directly started to hold talks with political parties represented at parliament. 

Ak?nc? said that as an impartial president, he did not favor any political party, but only wished for a model that will "win the approval of the parliament, solve citizens' problems, and work harmoniously" with himself during negotiations for a federal system to be established with the Greek Cypriot community.

Although the fall of the government and the ongoing coalition meetings have not yet had a big impact on the peace negotiations, the parliamentary elections in Greek Cyprus scheduled for on May 22 have slowed the flow of the talks.

"The Greek side does not like it when I say it, but this is a truth: There are parliamentary elections there...