LEFKOSA (AA) - Serdar Denktas, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said on Friday that he did not think Greek Cypriot side would be ready for a solution in 10 months.
Denktas told Bayrak tv in TRNC that Greek Cypriot side should also reveal its will to reach a solution in Cyprus. ''Reaching any solution requires equal amount of will revealed by the Greek Cypriot side as well as Turkish Cypriots. It is almost impossible for Greek Cypriot side to reach this point in the next 10 months.''
Noting that UN and EU could together bring Greek Cypriot side to a position which it would be ready to reach a solution in 5 years, Denktas said: ''I do not think that is possible in 10 months. If they impose an agreement with pressure as they did in 1960, I do not think that this agreement will be long lasting. If we are speaking about a lasting peace, the only way requires a process that creates an environment in which Greek Cypriot side will also need Turkish Cypriots. And I think this will take at least 5 years.''
Denktas said Turkish side would continue to be open for a solution, but the Greek Cypriots were struggling to bring Cyprus problem under EU roof. Denktas added that Cyprus problem should be solved under UN roof.
''Greek Cypriot side should be willing and in need for a solution. Turkish side has proved itself in this sense. Turkish side is willing for a solution. It expects Greek Cypriot side to show the same attitude. As long as Turkey continues to fulfill Copenhagen criteria, be sure that the point we will reach will be a solution model in which Greek Cypriot side accepts our political equality.''
(A֩
2004-12-17