EROGLU SAID AN OFFICIAL FROM THE FOREIGN MINISTRY WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE NEGOTIATING TEAM
TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu has said that an official from the Foreign Ministry representing his government will be included in the negotiating team accompanying President Mehmet Ali Talat in the second round of the talks, which are to be resumed on the 3rd of September.
But, the Premier stopped short to give any names.
Speaking on BRT’s first channel last night, Mr Eroglu said he reached agreement with President Talat on the inclusion of a representative of the
government into the negotiating team.
Explaining his concerns about the peace process, he said the government does not want to face a surprise plan, like the Annan Plan which was prepared by the United Nations.
Mr Eroglu said such plans which have a content pleasing the Greek
Cypriot Leader Dimitris Christofias would not be beneficial for the Cyprus Turkish People, adding that he would explain his concerns on the issue to President Talat.
Calling unacceptable the `view of the international community` that the Cyprus Turkish people is in desperate need of a solution, he said `an agreement in favour of us will not emerge as long as this view maintained`.
On alternatives to a solution, he said `first of all, we should claim our state. We should strike an agreement by taking the existence of two separate states into consideration` he added.
The first round of the talks was completed on the 6th of August but Mr Eroglu said agreement was not reached on any issues, except on the issue of judiciary, in the first round.
`Because of this, the secound round will be very difficult`, he noted.
The Prime Minister said that the issues of property, territory and guarantees were very difficult problems to be solved, stressing that a bi-zonal order should not be diluted.
`You cannot displace our people after 34 years. Such a move will create uneasiness. We want a formula which will not force the people to leave their places`, he said, adding that he did not believe that it would be possible for the two sides to reach an agreement on the issue of guarantees.
He stated that federations could only be established between two equal partners but said that the two states in Cyprus were not equals in the aspects of economy and population.
`This inequality should be removed if an agreement is to be reached` he noted, warning that a settlement to be found in the current circumstances could lead to the repetition of the bitter events of 1963.
Asked whether he would stand as a candidate in next year’s Presiential elections, Mr Eroglu said that his UBP party hasn’t discussed the issue yet but added that the party would name its own candidate.