Newly appointed Turkish FM visits Cyprus in support of peace talks

All parties involved in the talks should be supportive of a solution, Davutoglu told at a joint press conference with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.Â

 

"All the parties, including international tribunals, should support Mr. Talat's constructive efforts and everybody should refrain from taking steps that may affect the negotiation process negatively," Davutoglu said.

 

"Turkey's perspective is to turn Cyprus into an island of peace by protecting the benefits, future, security and prosperity of the Turkish Cypriot people," he added.

 

Talat told the conference that the issue was being assessed from a comprehensive perspective and that they believed solving it would contribute to peace in the region.

 

"We desire to contribute to peace in Cyprus and in our region by putting an end to the Cyprus issue through an agreement that will protect the indispensable rights of the Turkish Cypriot people," he said.

 

Relaunched in September 2008 after a four-year hiatus, Talat and his Greek Cypriot counterpart Demetris Christofias have been involved in reunification talks aimed at reaching an agreement to end the island's decades-long division.

 

The talks mark 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 Greek Cypriots.

 

A U.N. official said on Tuesday the next meeting between Talat and the Greek Cypriot leader will take place on May 14 instead of May 7.

 

The Anatolian Agency quoted spokesman for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Cyprus, or UNFICYP, Jose Diaz, as saying that Talat and Christofias would meet on May 14 to continue discussing economy-related issues as part of the comprehensive reunification negotiations.

 

MEETING WITH NEW PM

Davutoglu met newly-elected Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu later in the day.

 

Eroglu said the Turkish Cypriots should determine their strategies in cooperation with Turkey during the ongoing negotiation process on the island.

 

"We have to be in dialogue with Turkey, exchange views with Turkish officials and determine our strategies accordingly during the negotiation process in the island," he said.

 

Davutoglu said that the established cooperation between the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot governments would continue from now on as well.

 

"Turkey will continue to support the talks carried out by TRNC's President Mehmet Ali Talat as well as the activities carried out by the country's government in order to improve the prosperity of Turkish Cypriot people," he said.

 

CRITICAL YEAR FOR TALKS

This year will be of critical importance in regard to reunification negotiations undertaken in Cyprus, Davutoglu had earlier told reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport prior to his departure.

 

"The outlines of a comprehensive solution (to Cyprus question) for Turkey are; bi-zonality, equality, development of a new partnership system, and implementation of this solution within the scope of the EU as well as under Turkey's actual and effective guarantorship," Davutoglu was quoted by the Anatolian Agency as saying in Ankara.

 

He said the important thing was to fulfill a final and fair solution on the island, as well as to make Cyprus an island of peace, a factor that is important for restoring peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

 

He said Turkey was ready to make every contribution to bring peace to the island, however, a comprehensive solution, which takes the demands of Turkey and Turkish Cypriots into consideration, was fundamental for Turkey.