Talat warns domestic troubles in Turkey will hurt Cyprus case
Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat has said he is confident that Turkish democracy will weather the current political storm but warns it will not be Turkey alone that is hurt if the infighting leaves scars.
"Turkish democracy will get through such a crisis, I have no doubt about that. What we are concerned with is that it gets through the crisis safely; this is because we love Turkey and because, otherwise, it will have effects on Cyprus as well," Talat told a group of journalists in İstanbul.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which actively supported UN-led Cyprus reunification efforts during its first term in power, is now facing a closure case at the Constitutional Court on charges of becoming a "focal point for anti-secular activities." With Ankara caught in unprecedentedly high political tension, reunification talks are resuming between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides in three months, raising concerns that Turkey will not be able to concentrate on the new process.
"It is true that there has been a public shift in attention in Turkey," Talat said. "But state business is going on as usual. We have three months to start talks with the Greek Cypriot side. What shall we say if the closure case is not concluded by then? Shall we wait for the verdict? No, they will continue on their own track."
Talat also said the level of communication between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) and Turkey was "very good." Consultations with the president, the prime minister, the foreign minister and at the bureaucratic level are continuing, he added.
Talat met with Dimitris Christofias, the newly elected Greek Cypriot leader, on March 21 and the two decided to restart reunification talks three months later. Meanwhile, Turkish and Greek Cypriot committees will be working together on the details of an agreement to reunite the island in preparation for the leaders' talks and on ways to facilitate day-to-day contacts between the two communities.
The fact that Christofias pledged reunification in his election campaign and met with Talat immediately after election -- something his predecessor avoided -- renewed hopes for reunification after a UN-led drive collapsed in 2004. But questions remain as to whether the two sides' positions are reconcilable. Christofias earlier rejected Turkish demands for a loose federation of two states and for the Annan plan, the reunification blueprint rejected by the Greek Cypriots in 2004, to remain on the table for the new talks.
No red lines in talks
Talat carefully avoided setting "red lines" in the upcoming talks with Christofias, but said he would pick "political equality" if he was pressed to name one.
Critics have said his March 21 meeting with Christofias initiated a process based not on the Annan plan but on the so-called July 8 process, which was launched during former Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos' term and oversaw a gradual approach to a solution through the workings of technical committees. Ankara has given a cold shoulder to the July 8 process, saying it was meant to delay comprehensive settlement efforts.
Talat rejected criticism that the new process is like the July 8 process: "Comparing the Annan plan and the July 8 process is like comparing apples and oranges. One is a plan for settlement, the other is a process." He admitted there were similarities in the new process with the July 8 process but underlined that they were very different as well. "We have a timetable here now; committees must wrap up their work in three months. We did not have this in the July 8 process."
Asked whether the Annan plan would be on the table in new talks, he said it would not be on the table per se but that its elements would be discussed. "It will not be on the table, but it will certainly be on my chair," he said.
Responding to concerns that the renewed Greek Cypriot desire for talks could merely be a drive to repair an image tarnished by Papadopoulos' uncompromising stance, he said too much would be lost if the Greek Cypriot side returns to Papadopoulos' position. "There would be much disappointment, not only in Cyprus but also in the international community. The UN will not commit itself to solution efforts if this effort also fails. Therefore, I believe it is more than just an image campaign," Talat said. Asked whether he was hopeful for the talks, he said there were "suitable conditions" for a solution.
The UN will take an active role in the new process and will appoint a new Cyprus envoy in three months, he said. The Turkish Cypriot leader also urged the European Union to work on easing the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, saying steps to lift the Turkish Cypriot isolation are not an alternative to reunification efforts.
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=138095
The question is who is Talat supporting?...the AKP or the military?
good luck Talatie. I don't envy the guys position one little bit.
