ISTANBUL - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) aims to reach a conclusion on full-fledged Cyprus negotiations by the end of 2008 or mid-2009, TRNC Prime Minister said on Friday.
TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias met Thursday to start talks to reunify the Mediterranean island, after a ceremonial launch of negotiations on September 3rd.
Talat and Christofias started negotiations by discussing how a proposed federation would be governed, taking up the issue of administration and power sharing. The two leaders will continue talks on September 18th with the same topics on the table.
TRNC Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer told reporters in Istanbul after a press conference on higher education in TRNC that major objective for the Turkish Cypriot side was to find a solution to Cyprus question in this negotiation process.
"Negotiation topic is not just the administration but several issues, such as territory, EU relations, economic relations, property rights and all aspects of the Cyprus problem will be discussed. So, time is important and it should not take a long time than expected," Soyer said.
Asked about Greek demand that Turkish soldiers should withdraw from the island, Soyer said a number of troops, on which parties would agree, would stay in the island and the rest of the troops would leave the island on a timetable.
"Troops will not leave the island without a solution. I am quite clear on that. When negotiations come to the point of a solution, Turkey`s guarantor status will continue and Turkish Armed Forces will have presence in the island," he said.
(TÇ-AY)
(DIP)