Reiterating that he is the strongest candidate so far for the 2010 elections, Eroğlu said solution to the conflict is still distant. Currently working with Mehmet Ali Talat, the incumbent president, Eroğlu said peace negotiations cannot last forever. “Negotiations will also continue after April. However, we do not have endless patience. We will also display our strong position,” Eroğlu said, implying that he will not be as patient as the current president at the negotiating table.
Several peace packages have been offered in 41 years of peace talks, yet none have produced any tangible results due to Greek Cypriot’s firm position. The last such a peace solution was the Annan plan to unify the island proposed in 2004, to which Greek Cyprus said no while the KKTC approved it. “They are a member of the EU, they have trade relations with many countries, their level of welfare is very high and they are very comfortable in their position. That is why they do not want to negotiate,” Eroğlu noted.
Both sides of the island started peace negotiations in September of last year, and leaders will meet for the 57th time this week. “This is the last chance. If the talks fail, then we will look ahead,” Eroğlu stressed. Leaders of the two countries plan to put the solution package to a referendum before the general elections in the small country, which is heavily dependent upon hefty aid from Turkey. Eroğlu also said despite the KKTC president’s positive remarks on negotiation developments, no discussion topics have reached common terms with the exception of the judiciary chapter. Turkey earlier said that if Greek Cyprus says no to the peace solution, they will consider promoting the KKTC’s recognition as a state. Eroğlu also claimed that both sides are far from agreement and that the Turkish population is already very pessimistic with respect to a solution to the decades-long conflict.
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