TURKISH Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday came under harsh criticism for upsetting the climate ahead of next week’s peace talks, when he referred to a Cyprus solution based on two founder states and political equality of both communities.
“These positions do not help maintain the appropriate climate at all, in view on the start of direct negotiations between the two communities on September 3,” Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said.
Talat was speaking at a joint news conference on Thursday with Turkish President Abdullah Gul in Ankara.
Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou said Talat’s statements went against everything he and President Demetris Christofias had agreed upon during four previous meetings, which was a bizonal, bicommunal federation with a single sovereignty, citizenship and international identity.
“What Mr Talat said is very concerning,” he said.
Iacovou said Talat had used terms that were unacceptable to the Greek Cypriot side and which had not been agreed on.
Stephanou added: “In Cyprus, there is only one state, the internationally recognised state of the Republic of Cyprus and only one people, the Cypriot people, comprising two communities, the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot community. In view of the commencement of direct negotiations between the two communities, we underline once again the need to avoid remarks that dynamite the climate and sow doubt regarding the intentions of either community.”
Talat also came under fire from EDEK, AKEL, DIKO and DISY. Each political party took it in turn to condemn the Turkish Cypriot leader’s statements which came into direct conflict with UN resolutions.
DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades said that the Turkish Cypriot side could say whatever it wanted but that the government should continue to reiterate its positions both locally and abroad.
EDEK said the Talat’s statements highlighted the Turkish side’s intransigence which subverted the talks’ prospects.
AKEL spokesman Nikos Katsourides said the Turkish Cypriot leader’s comments had been “unacceptable” at a time when Christofias was working towards creating a positive climate ahead of September 3.
Katsourides said it was not for Talat to interpret his understanding of political equality as that had been established by the United Nations.
Reiterating well known positions publicly did nothing to achieve the best climate for talks, the AKEL deputy added.
DIKO spokesman Photis Photiou accused the Turkish side of attempting to create a crisis instead of a positive climate and said Talat and Gul’s statements had been particularly provocative.
The issue came to rise following Thursday’s news conference.
Talat said the Turkish Cypriot side’s plan was to achieve a solution through negotiations, and form a new partnership state based on two founder states and political equality of Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides.
Talat also said Turkey would not be made to give up its guarantor status and that the support of Turkey added strength to the occupied areas.
Furthermore, the Turkish Cypriot leader set a timeframe for the talks’ conclusion.
“We aim to solve the Cyprus problem within 2008. We think that a solution is possible in this short time frame. We will be at the table with all our good will.”
Additionally the Turkish Cypriot leader also made reference to the political implications of Moscow’s recognition of Georgia’s two breakaway provinces and whether or not this could serve as a model for Cyprus.
“South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Cyprus are separate issues. Will the [Russian decision] have an impact on Cyprus? I believe it could have, but I cannot predict in which direction,” Talat said.
For his part, Gul said the Cyprus problem was essentially different from the latest Caucasus crisis. He said Turkish and Greek Cypriots originally founded the state of Cyprus as partners, but the island was divided because the conditions of that partnership were not fulfilled.
“This makes the Cyprus problem a more just and legitimate cause for the Turkish Cypriots,” he said.
President Demetris Christofias and Talat are to launch comprehensive reunification talks on Wednesday. The initiative raises fresh hopes of ending a deadlock that has been harming Turkey’s ambition to join the European Union.
