Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (26.10.11) reports that at a meeting yesterday with members of the “Fighter Commanders’ Association”, Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu argued that the issue of the map in the Cyprus reunification talks will not be on the agenda during the two leaders’ trip to New York for a meeting with the U.N. Secretary-General, adding that there are some criteria such as the displacement of as few people as possible, the fertility and the possibility of development (of the area).
Claiming that the Turkish side could more or less guess what plans the Greek Cypriot side will take with it to New York, Eroglu alleged that the Turkish Cypriot side will go with good will and saying that “there is hope”. He also said: “Our stance will be in the direction of an agreement that will not devastate our people and where we will be able to live under Turkey’s guarantees in this territory with sovereignty, freedom, tranquillity and security”.
Eroglu argued that it is not possible to return to the pre-1974 period and to grant the Greek Cypriot side whatever it wants because, as he claimed, 37 years have passed from the “peace operation” (as Eroglu refers to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974). Eroglu also argued: “Within this period a state structure has emerged in the north [translator’s note: the breakaway regime]. Our people have developed from the ground up a socio-economic structure. We are looking for an agreement, taking into account all of these things.”
Claiming that the Turkish Cypriot side is the one which wants an agreement at the negotiation table, Eroglu argued: “We don’t need to waste time, we don’t need to play with time, because the Greek Cypriot side is an EU member country and a UN member while we are still under ’embargoes’. We want to look ahead.” Eroglu said that in New York they want to see whether they will reach somewhere with UN Secretary-General’s good will mission.
Eroglu added: “We are going with this aim. We made some proposals on all chapters. We are trying to pave the way for an agreement by taking some steps. We will see in New York if this is possible.” He claimed that their projects, thoughts are known, adding that their policy on the property issue is clear. He also said that UN also liked this. Eroglu added: “We obtained some convergences on some issues. I can say that we agreed on the economy chapter and on the police issue within the domestic security issue, however, there are some chapters on which we could not agree.”
Meanwhile, illegal Bayrak television (26.10.11) broadcasts that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu will meet tomorrow morning with the political parties represented in the so-called assembly to inform them regarding the latest stage of the negotiations prior the New York summit.
