Turkish Cyprus PM in Turkey for meeting with Erdogan

Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Dervis Eroglu, has arrived in Turkish capital of Ankara on Thursday.

Speaking to the AA at Ankara's Esenboga International Airport, Eroglu said that the year 2009 was earlier designated as the year for a solution in Cyprus.

This designation did not take place. It is impossible to predict a date for solution in Cyprus. Certain circles make optimistic remarks once negotiations begin but negotiations may end after 2-3 years. After a while, the negotiations may resume. Despite the good will of the Turkish Cypriots, I can say that we are far from a compromise in Cyprus, Eroglu noted.

Prime Minister Eroglu will meet with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday evening. Eroglu will be received by Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Friday.

TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias launched Cyprus talks in September 2008 in an effort to find a solution to the Cyprus issue. The first round of the talks was completed on August 6, 2009. And the second round started on September 10.

Gaining independence from the UK in 1960, Cyprus became a bi-communal Republic where Greek and Turkish Cypriot constituent communities would share power guaranteed by the UK, Turkey and Greece. However, reluctant to share power and pursuing a policy of Enosis (Union) with Greece, Greek Cypriots soon expelled Turkish Cypriots from power and terrorised and ghettoised them.

Decades long armed attacks on the defenseless Turkish Cypriots culminated in 1974 when an Athens-backed Greek Cypriot military coup on the island led to Turkey's intervention based on its rights stemming from guarantor agreement.

Although the Republic of Cyprus as described in the 1959 agreements is no longer there, Greek Cypriots continue to enjoy this title and international recognition while the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a fully democratic government representing Turkish Cypriots, still suffers under an unfair political and economic blockade.

Cyprus joined the EU as a divided island when Greek Cypriots in the south rejected the UN reunification plan in twin referendums in 2004 even though the Turkish Cypriots in the north overwhelmingly supported it.

The promise made by EU foreign ministers before the referendums to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and establish direct trade with north Cyprus remains unfulfilled.


/World Bulletin/