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TALAT “NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS IS MOVING FORWARD TOO SLOWLY”

President Mehmet Ali Talat has complained that the pace of the current negotiations process was moving too slowly, mainly because the talks had started from scratch.

He said the real push for a solution will come from the international community.

In a interview to the TAK News Agency Cyprus, President Mehmet Ali Talat made important statements on both the Cyprus Problem and domestic issues.

He stressed that the negotiations process, which comprimised of a total of 11 meetings so far was moving forward too slowly.

Responding to a question as to why so little had been achieved over the last three months, the President said “we are moving too slowly because we started the talks without a basis. When the Greek Cypriot Side rejected the Annan Plan as a basis for the talks, apart from the general framework, we had to start from scratch”.

Explaining that they had even confronted proposals that had not been included in any negotiations process to this day, Talat said these included proposals for the President and the Vice President to enter the elections on the same electrol ballot. He explained

“There has never been and I never expected such a proposal that undermines the Turkish Cypriot’s political will and legitimacy to be brought to the negotiations table.”

Asked whether the middle of 2009 before the elections in the European Parliament was a realistic target for a solution, the President said that they had set the middle of next year as a target and that the Greek Cypriot Side had not objected to this.

He however added that achieving by a solution by then seemed highly unlikely with the current pace of the negotiations.

Commenting on the widespread belief that the leaders are attending the talks just for the sake of meeting, the President said “this is an unfair statement. There is a strong desire for a solution on our side. What I feel is that they too have that desire.

Pointing out that there was convergence between the two sides on many issues despite the slow progess, President Talat said that there was progress on more than half the issues under the chapter of goverance and power sharing.

Asked when will the talks move onto the next chapter of property, the President said that there was no set date as to when negotiations would move on this thorny issue.

Clarifying his earlier statement that there are two peoples in Cyprus, the President said that there was noting to debate about this issue.

“There is not a single UN resolution which states that there is only one people in Cyprus” he said.

Responding to the question as to whether the Christofias he knew was different from the Christofias as the negotiating table, Talat said “He’s different from what I expected. He has disappointed me from time to time.”

Pointing out that Christofias has an obsession with Turkey, the President said that the Greek Cypriot leader looked to blame Turkey for every glitch in the talks.

“Every time he wants to critisize Turkey, he ends up insulting or offending us. Statements which accuse us of being puppets of Turkey deeply offends and disturbs us” he said.

Asked whether he believed it will be possible to reach a final agreement with the Greek Cypriot Side, Talat said “if we think we can reach an agreement on every issue we will be mistaken. There will be issues left without convergence. This is where the international community will step in. A solution will be possible with their contributions.

Commenting on claims that the Foreign Minister has been kept out of the negotiations process, the President said that the talks were being carried out by the two leaders.

“The Foreign Minister looks out for the interests of the TRNC abroad. Minister Avci is doing a fine job of this” he added.

Touching upon the latest developments on the domestic scene, Talat said that the country was experiencing a serious economic crisis.
He said the economic situation could have an indirect impact on the talks.

Explaining that the budget was overstrained with wage increases, the President said “we miscalculated the budget and then we rammed into a wall.”

Pointing out that a series of economic and saving measures was needed to put the budget back on balance, President Mehmet Ali Talat said that such practices was common in other countries.