LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat said on Wednesday that they would decide on the beginning date of talks --for a solution in the island-- with his Greek Cypriot counterpart Demetris Christofias during Friday`s meeting.
Talat told CNN Turk, a private TV channel in Turkey, that talks in Cyprus would most probably begin in September. He drew attention to the importance of political equality with Greek Cypriots in all institutions.
Talat said there was no agreement on the system of presidency yet, and pointed out that the abolition of the guarantor system was out of the question.
He said, "agreements on guarantorship and alliance are not agreements between Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides but rather international agreements."
Talat said Turkish Cypriot side had "red lines" during talks and they were ready to negotiate everything else. He listed indispensable issues for Turkish Cypriot side as : "Turkey`s guarantorship, political equality, a bi-zonal state with two founder states."
-NEW PROCESS IN PEACE TALKS IN CYPRUS-
TRNC President Talat and his Greek Cypriot counterpart Christofias met on March 21st, 2008 and agreed on establishing several working groups and technical committees towards a solution in the Island.
On July 1st, Talat and Christofias discussed many issues including "single sovereignty and single citizenship". The two Cypriot leaders agreed to meet on July 25th in order to assess the works of the groups and committees.
-CYPRUS ISSUE-
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.
Gaining independence from the UK 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 defenceless Turkish Cypriots culminated in 1974 when an Athens-backed Greek Cypriot military coup on the island led to Turkey`s military intervention. 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.
(OZG-MS)