ANKARA - Turkey`s President Abdullah Gul said Thursday that a solution in Cyprus could be found under the roof of United Nations, within the framework of UN Secretary-General`s goodwill mission, based on realities in the island and with a new partnership to be established by two equal communities and two founder countries.
President Gul had a meeting with President Mehmet Ali Talat of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in Ankara ahead of peace talks on September 3rd between Greek and Turkish Cypriots on the Mediterranean island.
At a joint press conference after his meeting with Talat, which was attended also by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, Gul said that it was important to be fair and that the new system should be functional and viable.
"We also think that it is right to continue guarantor status and we are insisted on it," Gul said. "Not only Turkey, but also Greece is the guarantor in the island. This is an international agreement."
Gul also called on involved parties in Cyprus question and the international community to exert efforts to help establish peace and stability in the island and in the whole region.
Pledging that Turkey would provide all kinds of support for upcoming peace talks, Gul said, "on the other hand, we will continue to fulfill our historical responsibility for progress of TRNC and peace and prosperity of Turkish Cypriot people."
Asked whether status of Cyprus could be affected as Russia recognized independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Gul said, "Cyprus question has aspects that are sui generis, more positive and advantageous. First of all, this question is not a result of cold war era. It is totally different from recent crisis. Secondly, Turkish and Greek Cypriots founded the Republic of Cyprus together, they were partners. Problems emerged as partnership did not work and requirements of the partnership were not performed. That is the cause of difference."
(TÇ-CE)
(DIP)