Talat says unitary state in Cyprus out of question

North Cyprus President Mehmet Ali Talat said on Thursday that an unitary state in Cyprus was out of question.

Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias met at buffer zone in Lefkosa within the scope of talks to find a solution to Cyprus issue.

When journalists asked to comment on the news reports which appeared in Greek Cypriot media that there was a drift towards unitary state in thesis of the Turkish party regarding economy, Talat said an unitary state was out of question.

"We are after forming a federal structure. Negotiations continue within the scope of what should be done in federal structures," Talat said.

Talat said "economy" was assessed at the meeting, indicating that special representatives and experts tackled the issue from various aspects.

Talat said "economy" would continue to be main topic during their scheduled meeting on March 16. He said, "we will start to discuss EU issues later".

Referring to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's meeting with the Greek Cypriot journalists, Talat said the meeting was an indication of the importance Erdogan was attaching to Greek Cypriot society and support to peace process.

He said, "this is the first time a Turkish prime minister makes direct statements to Greek Cypriot journalists. He wanted to relay positive messages to Greek Cypriots."

"However, Greek Cypriot party assumed a negative stance against his messages. I relayed Greek Cypriot leader Christofias the uneasiness felt over the reactions," Talat noted.

Talat said Erdogan and Egemen Bagis, Chief Negotiator for the EU talks, very clearly showed their support to the negotiation process and indicated that Turkey would support
a solution that would be accepted by the two parties.

Talat denied any interruption in talks, indicating that the talks would continue till March 30.

The settlement talks will be suspended for the presidential election in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on April 18.

Talat is seeking to be reelected for a second term in the upcoming elections against Premier Dervis Eroglu.

The extensive talks aiming to find a lasting settlement to the Cyprus issue began on September 11, 2008.

TRNC and Turkey favor a bizonal and bicommunal, with two politically equal founding states, based on the UN parameters and earlier UN resolutions.

Leaders who are meeting for the 69th time under the talks made certain progress over certain issues, but disagreement over issues like property, power sharing and treaty of guaranty still prevails.

Issue

Gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1960, Cyprus became a bi-communal Republic where Greek and Turkish Cypriot constituent communities would share power guaranteed by the UK, Turkey and Greece.

However, reluctant to share power and pursuing a policy of Enosis (Union) with Greece, Greek Cypriots soon expelled Turkish Cypriots from power and terrorised and ghettoised them.

Decades long armed attacks on the defenseless Turkish Cypriots culminated in 1974 when an Athens-backed Greek Cypriot military coup on the island led to Turkey's intervention based on its rights stemming from the Treaty of Guarantee.

Although the Republic of Cyprus as described in the 1959 agreements is no longer there, Greek Cypriots continue to enjoy this title and international recognition while the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a fully democratic government representing Turkish Cypriots, still suffers under an unfair political and economic blockade.

Cyprus joined the EU as a divided island when Greek Cypriots in the south rejected the UN reunification plan in twin referendums in 2004 even though the Turkish Cypriots in the north overwhelmingly supported it.

The promise made by EU foreign ministers before the referendums to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and establish direct trade with north Cyprus remains unfulfilled.

AA

05.03.2010