Cyprus-Forum.com

[eracles]

Watch the full interview here...
http://www.euronews.net/index.php?page= ... 210&lng=1#
Highlights for me...

On Turkey...

"If I’m on the negotiating table, this means that I’m getting the support of Turkey."
Amazing, I mean a moment before he says that he's getting full support of Turkey, the next he saying that if Turkey doesn't support him they'll remove him? Do Turkey support him because he's doing as they say?

On Demographics

"They are 700 thousands, 600 thousand, Turkish Cypriot 200 thousand, so what type of balance they are seeking… I don’t know. We shouldn’t differentiate and discriminate people according to where they are coming from, and this is very important, crucial."
I agree, very crucial, so why split an island 'according to where they are coming from'?

On a future state...

a new partnership state will be formed and this partnership state will be based on the political equality of Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. Political equality does not mean numerical equality, but it means effective participation to the decision making and to the implementation. A federal state based on bi-zonality and political equality of the two peoples. This is very crucial for Turkish Cypriot."
Still trying to get my head round how this can manifest itself in a workable manner. It appears that for a federal state to operate successfully Talat wants his partnership state to have a 1:1 say on federal matters...which given his own figures on the population create an unworkable formula. Admittedly I need to do a lot more research into this kind of proposed solution. To me it seems that his idea of a deal is possibly worse than partition as it has the potential to force the majority of citizens to be subjected to Turkish strategic considerations to the detriment to the Island. I can't see unification here without a massive, massive compromise from Greek Cypriots. In effect the Turkish Cypriots are, via Turkey, playing a card trick called Partition, by making a united Cyprus an extremely unsavoury prospect. Again, I need to learn a lot more, (still need to learn how to make cypriot bread as well)...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mehmet Ali Talat is the president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a state whose autonomy is recognised only by Turkey. The status of Northern Cyprus remains a stumbling block in Turkey's relationship with the European Union. A new initiative from Republic of Cyprus President Demitris Kristofias, however, could provide a resolution to the stand-off and President Talat is ready to negotiate the future of the island. Euronews met him in Brussels.

EuroNews: "President Talat, welcome to EuroNews. You look pretty optimistic about the negotiations on the future of the island, what is according to you the main obstacle?"

Mehmet Ali Talat: "The problem with the Greek-Cypriot side is the rejectionist forces position, the former (pdt) Papadopoulos and his party is still a coalition partner of Mr Kristofias. In the national council they are present; church is very, very powerful, extremely powerful and Mr Kristofias is obliged to listen to them also."

EuroNews: "Also your side must deal with pressures from outside, external pressures like the Turkish one, for instance."

Mehmet Ali Talat: "I’m very comfortable, I’m getting full support from Turkey, I don’t have any problem and I know that without any full support of Turkey I cannot be successful. So I don’t have any problem. If I’m on the negotiating table, this means that I’m getting the support of Turkey."

EuroNews: "One of the most important chapters is about settlers and settlers are coming from Turkey and this is a big problem apparently."

Mehmet Ali Talat: "It is not a big problem."

EuroNews: "Well, according to the other side, yes…"

Mehmet Ali Talat: "Settlers, which is not the good word, not the good term to describe those people, because they are living in the island more than 20 or 30 years and they are somehow cypriotized, this is a humanitarian issue and a humanitarian matter can be solved in line with the international practice; so we are ready to solve this problem in line with the international practice and international law."

EuroNews: "Haven’t you the impression that however some powers in Ankara are using the issue of this immigrants, say, if you don’t accept the term settlers?"

Mehmet Ali Talat:"How?"

EuroNews: "For other political purposes?"

Mehmet Ali Talat: "What other political purposes?"

EuroNews: "For instance the relation between the current government and the army."

Mehmet Ali Talat: "The settlers, the immigrants, how?"

EuroNews: "Well, a policy of occupation."

Mehmet Ali Talat: "Policy of occupation? The relationship between the government and the military?"

EuroNews: "It’s a policy of occupation, this is their point of view… I’m asking you the question."

Mehmet Ali Talat: "Really I don’t understand the question, if I can, I can answer."

EuroNews: "To reach an agreement like in the case of the Cypriot one it is also a matter of balance between the two communities."

Mehmet Ali Talat: "What type of balance?"

EuroNews: "A balance of population, a demographic balance."

Mehmet Ali Talat: "They are 700 thousands, 600 thousand, Turkish Cypriot 200 thousand, so what type of balance they are seeking… I don’t know. We shouldn’t differentiate and discriminate people according to where they are coming from, and this is very important, crucial."

EuroNews: "How about the property issue? because this is another important topic."

Mehmet Ali Talat: "Property issue will be solved in terms of either compensations, or exchange or restitution. There are three options. And an agreement will have provisions regarding this issue."

EuroNews: "Another important issue is the presence of Turkish troops in the Northern part of the island. Do you think that once an agreement is reached, these troops will leave?"

Mehmet Ali Talat: "According to the guarantee and alliance agreement now, 650 Turkish and 950 Greek soldiers will stay in the island. The problem is this: if you go on the streets and ask to Turkish Cypriot whether they want the presence of Turkish troops or not you will find that this is almost 95%. Why? Because of mistrust. So, the presence of Turkish troops is very crucial and very important for Turkish Cypriots, even if this is a symbolic number, it is a symbolic number."

EuroNews: "Don’t you think that Cyprus is a sort, maybe hostage is to strong, but it is part of the Turkish strategy in its negotiations with the European Union?"

Mehmet Ali Talat: "Turkey is not using Cyprus as a bargaining chip in the European Union affairs, but the European Union, at least some countries of the European Union and Greek Cypriot side are using Cyprus."

EuroNews: "Haven’t you the impression that, however, Cyprus is used by Turkey for domestic purposes?"

Mehmet Ali Talat: "Cyprus problem is a national problem for Turkey and you are right that some political forces use Cyprus issue in the domestic politics. This is a reality, although pity, but this is a reality. In that sense I agree, but again the majority of Turkish People, in Turkey, are very sensitive on the Cyprus problem, but they are not opposing a solution to the Cyprus problem."

EuroNews: "How do you imagine the constitutional form of a future reunified Cypriot state?"

Mehmet Ali Talat: "This is a very important question, a new partnership state will be formed and this partnership state will be based on the political equality of Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. Political equality does not mean numerical equality, but it means effective participation to the decision making and to the implementation. A federal state based on bi-zonality and political equality of the two peoples. This is very crucial for Turkish Cypriot."

EuroNews: "Thank you very much, president."

[Kikapu]

Talat's version of UNIFICATION.!!!??? He wants everything what he wants, but no mention of what the GC's want. Even on the property issues, he only offers what suits him and nobody else. Unless he climbs down his ivory tower of arrogance and starts negotiating on finding peace, he will soon be kicked out of office and replaced with a Denktash type, which will bury any hopes for the TC's to improve their lives, because the status quo will remain, and the EU dreams of the TC's and Turkey will be just a mirage, and the likelihood of future wars will become a reality. So Mr Talat, start using your head and not your Red Lines to find peace, or else it will be those same Red Lines that will be prevent your people to move forward into the EU, the West and for a better future.

[Oracle]

Time wasting social shibboleths ....

[Get Real!]

I'm shocked anyone is interested in what Talat has to say...

[boomerang]

EuroNews: "Haven’t you the impression that however some powers in Ankara are using the issue of this immigrants, say, if you don’t accept the term settlers?"

Mehmet Ali Talat:"How?"

EuroNews: "For other political purposes?"

Mehmet Ali Talat: "What other political purposes?"

EuroNews: "For instance the relation between the current government and the army."

Mehmet Ali Talat: "The settlers, the immigrants, how?"

EuroNews: "Well, a policy of occupation."

Mehmet Ali Talat: "Policy of occupation? The relationship between the government and the military?"

EuroNews: "It’s a policy of occupation, this is their point of view… I’m asking you the question."

Mehmet Ali Talat: "Really I don’t understand the question, if I can, I can answer."

Priceless

[Oracle]

EuroNews: "Haven’t you the impression that however some powers in Ankara are using the issue of this immigrants, say, if you don’t accept the term settlers?"

Mehmet Ali Talat:"How?"

EuroNews: "For other political purposes?"

Mehmet Ali Talat: "What other political purposes?"

EuroNews: "For instance the relation between the current government and the army."

Mehmet Ali Talat: "The settlers, the immigrants, how?"

EuroNews: "Well, a policy of occupation."

Mehmet Ali Talat: "Policy of occupation? The relationship between the government and the military?"

EuroNews: "It’s a policy of occupation, this is their point of view… I’m asking you the question."

Mehmet Ali Talat: "Really I don’t understand the question, if I can, I can answer."

Priceless

Surely Kikapu wrote the script for that!

[paliometoxo]

hmm cypriotised?

[boomerang]

Talat's version of UNIFICATION.!!!??? He wants everything what he wants, but no mention of what the GC's want. Even on the property issues, he only offers what suits him and nobody else. Unless he climbs down his ivory tower of arrogance and starts negotiating on finding peace, he will soon be kicked out of office and replaced with a Denktash type, which will bury any hopes for the TC's to improve their lives, because the status quo will remain, and the EU dreams of the TC's and Turkey will be just a mirage, and the likelihood of future wars will become a reality. So Mr Talat, start using your head and not your Red Lines to find peace, or else it will be those same Red Lines that will be prevent your people to move forward into the EU, the West and for a better future.

I think Christofias just gave him enough rope to slowly hang himself, along with turkey's policy...

He is talking as he makes the rules, and then he admits here in this interview, turkey is pulling the strings and he is making a fool of himself...He needs a new set of cojonas...

Its obvious that turkey is in a hurry, read 2009 is fast approaching, and in a last desperate hurry all of a sudden wants a soluton, while maintaining the RED LINES...It ain't gonna work Turkey...sending a clown, read Talat, it only enforces the opposite...

If I was Chrostofias I would stretch the processess till towards the end 2009...Then we will see how much the EU process is worth to turkey...

[xxNilxx]

He's right. You can't just kick people out who have been living her for 40 years.

[Get Real!]

He's right. You can't just kick people out who have been living her for 40 years.

The Greek Cypriots were living in what you call the "TRNC" for thousands of years yet Turkey proved that they could be easily removed by force so I guess you are very wrong.

Both Talat and yourself are just a couple of foolish clowns better suited in a circus where children can throw tomatoes at you.