Cyprus 'may be split permanently'
By David Blair in Nicosia
Last Updated: 3:58am BST 21/08/2007
President Mehmet Ali Talat
Cyprus faces "permanent partition" unless the "poisonous wound" of the conflict between Greek and Turk is resolved soon, the president of the isolated North has told The Daily Telegraph.
Officials representing President Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of the self-styled "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", will open talks today designed to prepare for a crucial meeting with his Greek Cypriot counterpart, President Tassos Papadopoulos.
Mr Talat, 55, gave warning that any hope of uniting the island may soon die forever.
Politicians who favour a settlement could lose power in Northern Cyprus and their hardline successors may ensure the island's permanent dismemberment.
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"The division is deepening. There are opinion polls which indicate that the majority of Turkish Cypriots are in favour of the two-state solution: permanent partition," Mr Talat said at his residence near the "green line" dividing the capital, Nicosia.
"This shows that Turkish Cypriots are diverting from their former position."
In 2004, the 250,000 Turkish population of Northern Cyprus overwhelmingly approved a peace plan devised by Kofi Annan, then secretary-general of the UN.
This would have abolished the "green line", reunited the island as a loose federation and allowed the new Republic of Cyprus to join the European Union.
In a parallel referendum, three quarters of the Greek population of southern Cyprus rejected the plan, encouraged by Mr Papadopoulos. As the island's recognised government, southern Cyprus was allowed to enter the EU. Its economy has boomed ever since.
Mr Talat believes that public opinion in the North has hardened and become "totally contradictory" to the referendum result.
The failure to resolve the dispute has "deepened the sentiment of the people to avoid unification of the island," he said.
"This is a big danger. This of course lessens the options for politicians. Politicians cannot go against the people's will."
For decades, Northern Cyprus was dominated by hardline Turkish nationalists, notably Rauf Denktash. But Mr Talat, a moderate Left-winger who won office in 2005, favours unity and power-sharing.
"Today, the total power here in the North is under the control of pro-solution forces. If this changes, I don't know what will happen," said Mr Talat.
Mr Papadopoulos does not recognise Mr Talat as the leader of a neighbouring state. His government has treated Northern Cyprus as "occupied territory" for 33 years.
Northern Cyprus cannot trade directly with the EU and its airport has no flights to anywhere except Turkey.
Lifting this isolation would be the "best remedy for the present situation", said Mr Talat. This would bolster "pro-solution" politicians and provide Mr Papadopoulos with a new incentive to negotiate.
The Conflict
Cyprus has been divided for the last 33 years. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey, covers 38 per cent of the island and contains about 250,000 people.
The official government of Cyprus rules the rest of the island, where the population of 600,000 is mainly Greek.
The division dates from 1974, when hardline Greek generals launched a military coup with the aim of unifying Cyprus and Greece.
Turkey responded by sending troops to the island - an "invasion" say the Greeks, a "peacekeeping operation" say the Turks.
A "green line", policed by the UN, divides the island and capital, Nicosia.
In 2004, the UN drew up a plan for reunification. Turks in the north voted for it, the Greeks in the south voted against.
Greek Cyprus was allowed to join the EU in 2004. Northern Cyprus was shut out.
This man is such a liar and a partitionist and Turkish speaking Cypriots need to look closer to home when blaming. Blame him not the RoC.
The RoC's econmy boomed soon after 74,
The isolations are enforced due to occupation of the Island's territory
there are not 250, 000 turkish speaking cyriots in the north
Mr Talat you are a liar and traitor to your country. And if they vote you out for more hard liners well we'll deal with them just ike we have dealth with you.
