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UN chief arrives in Cyprus to boost peace talks
Talat and Christofias, viewed as moderates, started peace talks in 2008. The United Nations, led by former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, facilitates negotiations, but it is largely a Cypriot-run process.
Delivering a speech at a meeting organized by think tanks in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), titled “Workshop on Seeking Socio-Political and Economic Strategies for the KKTC,” Talat on Saturday underlined that “a resolution means a reconciliation which can be reached through mutual compromises.”
“Now there are persons from both sides who want peace and who work for peace,” Talat said. “If there are persons who want peace on both sides, then peace and a resolution need to be found. If it will not happen then it should once more emerge who has the responsibility,” he added.
“Today we have to protect our stance concerning [finding a] resolution,” Talat said, warning that if the KKTC is eventually blamed for an absence of a resolution, this would harm Turkish Cypriot people’s image in the eyes of the international community.
In Turkey, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the Greek Cypriot side hasn’t acted positively along the negotiation process, urging Ban’s active involvement in the process.
“In my opinion, Christofias is not able to move comfortably, and we have also entered a difficult period,” Erdoğan said in an interview broadcast live on Sunday, referring to upcoming presidential elections in the KKTC scheduled for Apr. 18. Recalling that Talat is willing to continue negotiations without any interruption due to the election process, Erdoğan said, “I appreciate his determination.”
Negotiations now focus on uniting Cyprus as a two-zone federation linked by a central government. Sticking points range from how to settle property claims from thousands of internally displaced Cypriots to territorial adjustments.
Veteran Turkish Cypriot politician Derviş Eroğlu, a hardliner leading in the opinion polls ahead of the Apr. 18 vote, advocates a two-state deal, rejected outright by Greek Cypriots.
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