Talat argues that the existence and the identity of the Turkish Cypriots suffer from erosion

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (13.11.11) reports that Mehmet Ali Talat, former Turkish Cypriot leader, has argued that the existence and the identity of the Turkish Cypriots on the island suffer from erosion. In an interview given the day before yesterday, Talat said this derives not only from the migration of the people from the occupied area of Cyprus, but also from the weakening of the attachment of the population to these lands.

Talat recalled that on their national days many Turkish Cypriots visit the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus for various reasons and wondered the following: “Very well, does a person, who sees that place attractive and prefers it from the north, not experience problems on the issue of his attachment to his own land?”

Talat alleged that this is “invisible erosion” and could be changed only with the solution of the Cyprus problem. Talat claimed that issues such as taking passports and identity cards of the Republic of Cyprus and benefiting from health services in the government-controlled area of the island encourage this erosion. “All these contribute to the communal disintegration”, he alleged.

Asked to comment on the tripartite meeting between the community leaders and the UN Secretary-General, Talat said that the negotiations have not ended yet and that time has not been exhausted from the UN’s point of view. When that time comes, added Talat, we cannot say that no one will be interested in the Cyprus problem anymore, but a break could be given.

Talat said that a break could be given during the Republic of Cyprus’ EU term presidency, but we will not come to a stage at which “the way for everybody to go their own way will be opened as some unwilling friends think”. Talat noted that the international conference for the Cyprus problem is described as “the last game”, but this is bound to the condition of discussing and concluding the internal aspects of the problem. Talat asked which aspect of the internal problems has been closed.

Talat said he does not know the details of the negotiations and he has not met Eroglu since the troubles with the health of former Turkish Cypriot leader Denktas started.

Talat reiterated the view that the chapter of Governance and Power Sharing is more important than the Property and the Territory, because it concerns the future of the people for many centuries to come. He argued that the Turkish Cypriots want the increase of their power in the federal government and added that he does not know whether Eroglu defends this. He noted that the Turkish Cypriots should have more say in the federal government and therefore on the entire island, but Eroglu is insisting on the founding states having the mentality of “let it be small but mine”.

Responding to a question Talat argued that President Christofias seems more intransigent even when he is compared with Eroglu and claimed that President Christofias lost his prestige because of the explosion at the Mari Naval base.

Talat said that Eroglu awaits with “great enthusiasm” the summit to be held for the Cyprus problem in January and added: “He thinks that when that day comes a deadlock will be announced and thus he will rest. He hopes that with the deadlock, the TRNC will at least become like Taiwan”. Talat expressed the view that there is no chance for such a development to happen.

Talat argued that a solution will not be reached soon in Cyprus but the people should not stop hoping and should resist to communal erosion.