Turkish Cypriot leader urges Greek Cypriots to shun hardliners

"If the current Greek Cypriot administration, which has come forward with a pro-peace identity, is sincere in its desire to solve the Cyprus problem, it has to leave aside maneouvres aimed at keeping its former allies, such as the rejectionist front and the church, happy," Talat was quoted by AFP as saying at ceremonies marking the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

"You cannot both keep the extreme nationalist "Ohi" (No) front happy and extend your hand to Turkish Cypriots in peace. This is not possible," he told a crowd of Turkish Cypriots in Nicosia.

Christofias was elected in February on a platform for peace that sparked a thaw in the uneasy relations between the two communities after five years of stagnation under his predecessor, Tassos Papadopoulos.

But Christofias was forced to ally himself with the Papadopoulos camp in order to form a government.

He also has to try to placate the concerns of the Greek Orthodox Church, a powerful influence among the more than 760,000 Greek Cypriots, that also plays a powerful political role.

Cyprus has been divided since 1964 when Turkish Cypriots were forced to withdraw into enclaves.

Talat and his Greek Cypriot counterpart Demetris Christofias held Thursday their 8th meeting under the full-fledged peace talks relaunched in September.

The launch of negotiations marked the first major push for peace since the failure of a U.N. reunification plan in 2004, which was approved by Turkish Cypriots but overwhelmingly rejected by the Greek Cypriots.

Despite eight face-to-face meetings, they have made little tangible progress.

FOCUS ON FUTURE
Talat also urged Saturday his compatriots to focus on the future rather than the past.

"As people who have seen and experienced evil, our most important humane duty should be to leave behind the barricaded years as painful memories, and turn the experiences of those painful memories into a peaceful, safe life in Cyprus with a hopeful and beautiful future," he said.

"We are working very hard to reach a peace agreement that would safeguard our rights as a people with European values that has self-governance and that is the equal and sovereign partner in Cyprus in every sense.

Talat also condemned demonstrations on Friday by Greek Cypriots against the declaration of the TRNC.Local news reports said a number of people were injured when demonstrators targeted Turkish Cypriot vehicles and breached a police barrier into the U.N.-controlled buffer zone dividing the two communities."The demonstrations condemning the TRNC and attacks on Turkish people show why the TRNC is necessary," AFP quoted Talat as saying.

Turkish Cypriots had been governing themselves for 450 years in the island, Anatolian Agency also quoted Talat as saying.

Talat added his community was tried to be punished as they established their own state.

He said Turkish Cypriots were insistent and determined for solution, but they still continued to pay the bill of insolubility in the island.