New York - A Turkish Cypriot official on Friday asked United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to help end the isolation of the Turkish part of the divided island by resuming talks for a comprehensive settlement.
Turgay Avci, deputy prime minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, said in an interview with Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that Ban should resume discussions on a plan proposed by his predecessor Kofi Annan to form a federal government on Cyprus.
The Republic of Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot part of the island, is a UN member. Cyprus was admitted into the European Union in 2004 as a divided island. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus does not belong to world organizations and is recognized only by Ankara.
'We cannot accept piece-by-piece solution,' he said. 'Turkish Cypriots deserve to be treated on an equal basis like Greek Cypriots in a comprehensive settlement, in which there will be a bizonal and bi-communal arrangement.'
Avci, who was visiting New York to discuss the situation on Cyprus, called for 'political equality' between the two ethnic communities in a political solution.
The plan worked out by Annan was accepted by Turkish Cypriots in the north in a referendum in April 2004, but rejected by Greek Cypriots in the south.
The Greek Cypriots have demanded the withdrawal of more than 30,000 Turkish troops stationed in the northern part of the island since the 1960s. But the demanded was rejected by Ankara and Turkish Cypriots.
UN diplomatic efforts to end the division have stalled since after the 2004 referendum.
Avci said both sides agreed last year under UN mediation to form technical committees to deal with various issues, including health, security and environment. But he said the Greek Cypriot government has refused to enact the committees.
I am too bored to comment on all those nonsense. Has anyone noticed the joke that 30,000 Turkish troops were here from 1960 and the GCs ....
... have demanded their withdrawal
....
..... but the brave old Turks and TCs....
refused???
wow, wow, aint't that something?
Perhaps this guy does not even know what was in the Anan Plan, no?