TURKISH Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said yesterday that President Tassos Papadopoulos’ elimination from the second round of the elections raised hopes that the deadlock in the Cyprus negotiations could be overcome.
In written statement, Talat said the Turkish Cypriots were for the establishment of a new partnership state “based on the political equality of the two peoples and the equal status of two constituent states” and had stated this position expressly during the 2004 referendum.
“We regard the elections on the Greek Cypriot side with a view on whether or not they will give rise to new prospects for solution,” said Talat.
“Papadopoulos was unfortunately not interested in the solution of the Cyprus problem. However, the positions put forward by the two candidates, who will be competing for presidency in the second round, indicate that they are more interested in the solution of the problem.”
Talat said it would be clear in the near future whether this interest would be enough to bring the two sides to a comprehensive solution.
“However the sheer existence of such a desire will lead to the intensification of efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem,” he added.
Talat said the Turkish Cypriot side was ready to contribute to efforts towards an early, just and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.
“Our policy is a policy of solution and we hope that the change of leadership in South Cyprus will facilitate this policy in leading to positive results,” Talat said.
TURKISH Cypriot media were yesterday thrilled that President Tassos Papadopoulos would not be re-elected.
In an article under the title “I apologise to the Greek Cypriots”, Kibris columnist Suleyman Erguclu, said he was apologising for branding them conservative after the 2004 referendum results, and for being under the influence of the Church.
He also apologised for assuming Papadopoulos would get through to the second round, based on his perception of Greek Cypriots.
Greek Cypriots, like the Turkish Cypriots when they ousted Rauf Denktash, “signed for a big change in south Cyprus,” he said.
YeniDuzen, whose headline read: “Greek Cypriots say no to partition”, said DISY candidate Ioannis Kasoulides, who faced ridicule four years ago when he supported the Annan plan, was the one who received the most votes in Sunday’s election.
Afrika’s front page read “Tassos ousted” and referred to the development as a “democratic movement by the Greek Cypriot community”.
“With the ousting of Papadopoulos, a new page has opened in Cyprus,” said the newspaper, adding that it would be interesting to see what Turkish and Turkish Cypriot politicians would do next.
Most of the other Turkish Cypriot papers also expressed shock at the results. Only Yeni Volkan attacked statements by Kasoulides and AKEL’s Demetris Christofias.
The paper said Kasoulides had called for a struggle against Turkey, and Christofias had talked about saving the Pentadaktylos Mountains to unite the country.
Mainland Turkish newspapers talked of a cautious optimism that Greek Cypriots might be ready for a solution. Turkish officials have been generally quiet over Sunday’s election and its implications for the Cyprus issue.
