Talat: The Cyprus problem has been shelved

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (13.12.12) reports that former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat argued yesterday that the “file of the Cyprus problem has been closed” and that the issue has been shelved. In statements to a TV station, Talat noted, however, that this file will not cease to exist until a solution is reached.
Talat referred to the process regarding the Annan Plan and said that if the problem had been solved then, a boom would have been experienced in the economy and mainly in the constructions sector. He alleged that they could reach nowhere with late President Papadopoulos and added that they could achieve some progress with President Christofias, but no solution was found, because the will of the Greek Cypriots in this direction was allegedly less than the will of the Turkish Cypriots.
Asked on the future negotiating process, Talat said that negotiations will resume after the presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus, but the Turkish side is the one which should lead the process. However, he added, this could not be done with Eroglu, because he does not accept such a mission.
Referring to a statement made recently by self-styled foreign minister Huseyin Ozgurgun, who had said that the Turkish Cypriots could help economically the Greek Cypriots if the latter recognized the breakaway regime, Talat argued that this could have been said as a joke, but a “foreign minister does not make jokes”. Talat described as “childish” this kind of call on the Greek Cypriots.
Replying to a question on the internal politics in the occupied area of Cyprus and the National Unity Party’s (UBP) congress, Talat said that the “court” procedure did not end yet and that holding an early “election” could come onto the agenda. Talat argued that the UBP could face the danger of being divided.

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