LEFKOSA - Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy leader Yasar Yakýs said on Monday that the solution to be found to the Cyprus issue has to depend on two-state basis, it has to take into consideration the political equality and that it has to cover the guarantee of Turkey.
Speaking to ''Kibris'' newspaper published in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Yasar Yakýs said that the solution plan which U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan is expected to submit to the sides the same day has to be examined without any bias. Yakýs said they were informed that certain amendments to the advantage of the Greek Cypriot side were made in the plan at the last moment.
Yakýs said that the reactions of Greek Cypriots and Greece to the plan when the final text came out slowed down, adding that ''we came to the conclusion that the texts were leaked or given to the Greek Cypriot side and Greece and that the Greek Cypriot side made certain amendments be done in the text in line with their interests. We think that they stopped talking due to that reason.''
Noting that Turkish Cypriots and TRNC have certain ''red lines,'' Yakýs said that ''neither the foreigners should urge TRNC, nor we will urge TRNC to change these lines. As long as these red lines are maintained, the remaining issues can be resolved through negotiations.''
Yakýs said that there are two states in Cyprus and a sound agreement can not be reached on the island by ignoring these two states, adding that the starting point of solution is two-states and political equality.