Former US Ambassador Criticises Anastasiades, Praises Akıncı

In remarks made during a podcast appearance in South Cyprus, Koenig accused former Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades of making misleading promises he had no intention of keeping, while commending Akıncı and his negotiator Özdil Nami for their efforts.

Quoted by the Cyprus Mail, Koenig reiterated his criticism of Anastasiades, whom he had previously described as a “fraud and a fabulist,” saying the Greek Cypriot leader was “misleading” and gave promises he never intended to fulfil.

Reflecting on his time as ambassador from 2012 to 2015, Koenig described his disappointment during then-US Vice President Joe Biden’s 2014 visit to the island. He said the US administration had hoped for a breakthrough in confidence-building measures between the two sides following a joint declaration in February 2014. However, Koenig blamed then-Turkish Cypriot leader Derviş Eroğlu for not being helpful, noting that only a weak package of measures was agreed upon during a dinner in the buffer zone hosted by Biden with both leaders.

Koenig also spoke of discussions surrounding the status of Varosha (Maraş), calling it one of the most frustrating diplomatic experiences of his career. “If Mustafa Akıncı had been the Turkish Cypriot leader at the time, the chances of success would have been much higher,” he said.

He emphasised that Akıncı’s 2015 election represented a turning point and questioned how Greek Cypriots failed to seize the opportunity for a solution during his 5.5-year presidency. “With Akıncı in front of you, you couldn’t solve the Cyprus problem—it's hard to understand. You couldn't have asked for a better scenario,” Koenig remarked.

He also praised Özdil Nami, calling him a capable negotiator.

Koenig noted that his strong language regarding Anastasiades in a recent article—where he referred to the former leader as a “fraud and a fabulist”—was a reflection of his personal experience, not an official statement. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have used such harsh words, but they reflect my true feelings,” he said.