Talat accuses Eroglu of not wanting a solution in Cyprus and describes the census to be held by the regime as “camouflage” of the inflow of populationTurkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (26.08.11) reports that the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat has criticized the stance of the Turkish Cypriot side in the Cyprus talks describing it as “just be quiet and we’ll get by” and added that the population census announced by the breakaway regime is a “misleading effort” to camouflage the inflow of population into the occupied area of the island.

In statements yesterday to SIM TV, Talat said that he received no document until today regarding the content of the negotiations for reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem and claimed that “it is known” that the Greek Cypriot side “is not very willing” on the issue of finding a solution. Arguing that when he was the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community they worked hard for finding a solution, Talat described the current stance of the Turkish Cypriot side in the negotiations as “just be quiet and we’ll get by”. Pointing out that Eroglu says that he wants an international conference to be convened and the UN Secretary-General to decide whether a solution could be reached, Talat noted that actually Eroglu wants an announcement that a solution cannot be reached and everybody to go their own way.

Responding to a question, Talat said that migration from the occupied area of Cyprus has started again and the reason for this is the non-solution of the Cyprus problem. He argued that even “TRNC citizens” of Turkish origin, as he described the illegal settlers from Turkey who have been granted the “citizenship” of the breakaway regime, emigrate and noted that the Turkish Cypriots are in a process of disappearing.

Referring to the population census to be held by the breakaway regime, Talat said that “this is unnecessary, meaningless and will have no use”. He said that those who enter and exit from the occupied area of the island are registered and recalled that a “population census” was held in 2006. He added that the current population could be found out in cooperation with the “migration department”. Talat noted that the announcement of the “government” that it will hold a population census is a “misleading effort aiming at camouflaging the inflow of population”.

Responding to a question on the exploration for oil and natural gas to be carried out by the Republic of Cyprus, Talat argued that the Greek Cypriot side improved its image after the accession of Cyprus into the EU and “became reckless”. He alleged that with the issue of oil President Christofias is trying get rid of the reaction caused against him due to the “chaos” that exists in the country.