A Solution In Cyprus Should Facilitate Lasting Peace, State Minister Cicek

LEFKOSA - Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said Sunday the year 2009 is important for Cyprus and his government wishes to see the sides in Cyprus to reach a positive result at the end of the ongoing negotiations.

A solution reached in Cyprus should facilitate lasting peace and not any other type of peace, Cicek stressed.

President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Mehmet Ali Talat, received Cemil Cicek and an accompanying delegation who came to the TRNC to attend the July 20 Peace and Freedom Day celebrations.

I have come to the TRNC to share your joy in celebrating the anniversary of the July 20 Peace Operation. Your celebration is our celebration. We will live the excitement together on Monday, Cicek said.

Turkey is with us in good days and bad days. You are here today to share our joy. For this, we thank you a lot, Talat said.

July 20 Peace and Freedom Day led to new conditions of peace in Cyprus, Talat said.

We want a solution (in Cyprus) by the end of 2009. The solution process should be placed on a calendar. The Greek Cypriots feel uneasy about such a calendar, Talat said.

As we talk about a 'solution', the Greek Cypriots feel uncomfortable and express such uneasiness. This shows how much the Turkish Cypriots want a solution and how the Greek Cypriots lack motivation for the solution, Talat also said.

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.

An Athens-backed Greek Cypriot military coup on the island that culminated decades long armed attacks on the defenseless Turkish Cypriots in 1974 led to Turkey's military intervention and the island's eventual split into Turkish and Greek Cypriot parts.

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.