The President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Mehmet Ali Talat has called on his people to maintain their support to peace and solution-favoured policies which set the urgent settlement of the Cyprus problem as the prior goal.
“More than 70 % of the TRNC people want a solution; and that matters a lot” he said.
At a public gathering in the Dikmen village yesterday, the President noted that the Turkish Cypriots who were once known as being the side of non-solution, have proven their peaceful reputation with the ‘yes’ vote to the Annan Resolution Plan in 2004.
The President, who is finalizing the first phase of negotiations with the Gr Dimitris Christofias at the 40th round today, reminded that the new solution process took the start following the change of administration in the Greek Cypriot side.
Mr Talat said that the peaceful stance of the Turkish Cypriots which has internationally been proven, allowed Turkey to feel at ease regarding the international problems it becomes concerned in.
“However, our only reason for making peaceful policies is not to open Turkey’s international path. We take this issue as a whole and are happy with the outcomes of this stance” he added.
Talat went on to say that, for the first time in Cyprus negotiations history, the two sides have put their issues of agreement and disagreement on paper, and 30 papers on three main subjects have been prepared so far.
Noting that the second phase of Cyprus peace talks will start on the 3rd of September after a break, Talat said the procedure of the second phase has not gained its certain shape yet.
But generally, the two sides will work on increasing the level of rapprochement, the President stated.
Adding that the completion of the second phase will be followed by the give-and-take process, President Talat pointed to the need for the United Nations to take a more active participation within that framework.