Turkish Cypriot leader vows not to leave table

Talat told reporters in a meeting in Lefkosa they would work and negotiate with goodwill to solve the Cyprus problem. "We will not leave the table," he said, adding that it is different from the past; currently it seems like we are entering a serious negotiation process.  Â

Talat and Christofias met on March 21 and decided to revive reunification talks as well as to open another crossing point in the capital Nicosia as a goodwill gesture. The reunification talks stalled in 2004 when Greek Cypriots rejected a U.N. blueprint for the island’s reunification; a plan overwhelmingly supported by Turkish Cypriots. The two leaders will meet on May 7. Â

Talat also said working groups and technical committees would start working on Tuesday. He said the committees and groups would not be involved in negotiations, which will be pursued only by the island’s leaders.

He said the working groups, which held their first meeting on April 18, would examine the stances of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot parties and discuss the alternatives, while technical committees would take up problems or possible problems which might emerge regarding daily life. He added that the technical committees would seeks solutions and implement them immediately after receiving the leaders' approval.