by halil » Fri May 23, 2008 8:08 am
TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE MAINTAINS ITS SUPPORT TO A BIZONAL BICOMMUNAL FEDERATION.
The two leaders in Cyprus will meet on Today to evaluate the work being carried out by working groups and technical committees established to prepare the ground for fully fledged negotiations.
President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias will meet at 11.00 in the morning at the residence of the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Cyprus Taye-Brook Zerihoun.
The 6 working groups and 7 technical committees were established in line with the 21 March Agreement reached between the two leaders.
Meanwhile, the Presidential spokesperson Hasan Ercakica has said that contrary to Greek Cypriot claims, the Turkish Cypriot Side maintains its support to a bi-zonal and bi-communal federation in Cyprus.
Mr Ercakica said the Turkish Cypriot Side is ready to help the Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias if there are problems preventing him from sitting at the negotiations table.
`But for this to happen, Mr Christofias should openly explain these problems. President Talat will then surely try to help him` he said at a program on BRT.
Mr Ercakica said although there is no official confirmation, the Greek Cypriot Leader could propose the postponement of fully-fledged negotiations, which were planned to start on the 21st of June, as reported by the Greek Cypriot media.
The spokesperson also noted that other issues could also be brought to the agenda of tomorrow’s meeting.
Stressing that the Turkish Cypriot Side is committed to a federal solution in Cyprus, he said `a solution will not lead to the creation of two separate states. A new partnership state will be established by two constituent states which will form the basis of a state with a single international identity`.
Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot Side has been insisting on these issues, he said the reason behind this was the Greek Cypriot Side’s attempts to draw the Turkish Cypriot Side to within the framework drawn by the 1977-79 Agreements and its intention to ignore all the work that has been achieved since then.