Cyprus talks could end if Eroğlu wins, says Talat
Talat’s key challenger is Prime Minister Derviş Eroğlu, who says he can offer an alternative to reunification in the form of two states, referring to a Czech-Slovak-style “velvet divorce.” This is a prospect Greek Cypriots, who now represent the island internationally, refuse to contemplate.
The island of 1 million people has defied multiple efforts at mediation, with repercussions well beyond its tiny borders. Greek Cypriots, representing Cyprus in the EU, will not agree to Turkey joining the bloc until there is a solution to the decades-old conflict, harming attempts to anchor a country prone to instability closer to Europe.
Peace efforts in Cyprus collapsed in 2004, when Greek Cypriots rejected a United Nations reunification blueprint accepted by Turkish Cypriots. The present process, started in late 2008, is Cypriot-led, but it is a mammoth task. The aim is for the sides to agree to reunification under a federation, but they are negotiating a potential diplomatic minefield on how to co-govern, what territory each side will have and how to reconcile the property grievances of tens of thousands of internally displaced people.
“We have agreed on many issues,” Talat said in the interview, late on Thursday. He declined to say when he thought a deal could be possible after the elections -- which he said he would win -- but said a cut-off date for talks would likely be when Greek Cypriots start their own presidential campaign. “The latest realistic date would be mid-2011,” he said.
A United Nations peacekeeping force monitors a 180-kilometer cease-fire line separating the two sides. Since 1974, the situation on the island has been mostly peaceful, but Talat said the present situation was untenable. “Until a solution ... bloodshed, threats, violence are always possible. For the time being it is not happening but without a solution there is always a possibility of facing abnormalities.”
Talat’s election slogan “Ya dün, Ya dünya,” emblazoned on his red-and-white campaign bus, loosely translates as “Either yesterday, or the world.”
“Before 2004, Turkish Cypriots were totally excluded from the international community ... we brought them closer to the world,” Talat said. “People should now decide whether to go back, or move towards the world.”
REUTERS WITH TODAY’S ZAMAN NICOSIA
27.03.2010
ALL Cypriots take note.In 10 YEARS time the Cypriot Turks will be an exiting species.......... I BET YOU'LL NOT PUBLISH IT |
By:ozkan zuhtu on Nis 17, 2010
We would rather live with settlers than with people who will kill us at the drop of a hat there has been peace since 1974 on our side of the island so lets keep it real we dont need the greeks to slaughter us again long live Turkey they will give up the EU for us what will the greeks give up ?????? |
Zak your the one who needs to do his homework,cyprus was leased to the brits in 1875 for 100 years,from the ottoman turks not greeks, the brits then slowly but surely started to sell the land to mainland greeks, cyprus belongs to the turks, we do not want a reunified island, the south to the south a |
Ed
You really think that you would have a better future under turkey??
Think again my friend.
they have allready brought in enough settlers to ensure you do not have a say in your future!
if you do your homework, you will finfd that it is the greeks who have been dispersed remember Constantino |
Mr Talat is so desperate to sell us to the Greeks! Like the 1950s and 1960s the aim is too disperse the Turkish Cypriots across the WORLD and leave behind our beloved island. Along with the EU, UN and AKP party, they are trying to destroy us, not bring us a better a future. |
