Turkish Cypriots celebrate 34th anniversary of Peace Operation

"Nobody should expect Turkish Cypriots to step back from the idea of self-administration, equal status and equal partnership and to accept living as a minority group," Erdogan also said, adding a comprehensive solution could be found in Cyprus provided that such solution was based on the realities in the island.

Erdogan reiterated that a comprehensive solution could only be achieved with a new partnership in which Turkish Cypriot people participate equally and as a founder element.

"Such new partnership will be established on the principles of bizonal structure, political equality and Turkey's effective status as guarantor state," he added.

"We do not and will not accept the continuation of the isolations imposed on Turkish Cypriots," Erdogan said, adding the international community, and primarily EU, should keep its promises to Turkish Cypriots.

Making Turkish Cypriots pay the price for the uncompromising stance of Greek Cypriots was a serious contradiction and a great injustice, he added.

"It is not legitimate to impose restrictions on the party that desires peace and compromise," he said, and added the leaders' reaching a consensus on certain matters during such meeting was a positive step.

Erdogan also said that it was not right to relate Turkey's EU membership with the Cyprus issue. "Cyprus issue should not be used against Turkey's EU accession process," he said.

Erdogan, Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and other high-level officials earlier on Sunday laid a wreath on "Bogaz Martyrdom", the Anatolian Agency reported.  Â

Turkish prime minister later laid a wreath on Ataturk's Monument in Nicosia, and signed the special register, it added.

  

Erdogan was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek, State Minister Murat Basesgioglu, Economy Minister Mehmet Simsek, Interior Minister Besir Atalay, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker, Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim and Environment Minister Veysel Eroglu in his visit to Cyprus.

 

EMPHASIS ON SOVEREIGNITY

 

Turkish Cypriot people had never been a minority, and would never be so, Talat told at the ceremony, adding it is out of question for Turkish Cypriots to leave the sovereignty to the Greek Cypriot administration.
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Talat said Turkish Cypriots wanted to integrate to world, preserving what it had gained with July 20 peace operation.

 

"Therefore, we want to reach an honorable and esteemed solution with the Greek Cypriot people, with whom we have to share our island," he was quoted by the Anatolian Agency as saying.
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Talat said that Turkish Cypriot people proved that they backed a fair and sustainable settlement in simultaneous referenda held in the island on a reunification plan on April 24, 2004.

 

He also reiterated that his country's vision for a solution was political equality of the two nations, equal status of two founder states, and establishment of a new bi-zonal partner state.

 

He said Turkey's status as a guarantor state should be maintained in any settlement, adding unsolved Cyprus problem firstly affected Turkish Cypriots because they were living under isolation.

 

"However, solution of Cyprus problem is a must for regional and world peace," Talat said, and added Greek Cypriot administration should give up using Cyprus problem as an obstacle before Turkey's European Union (EU) membership path.
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Talat once more reiterated that presence of Turkish army in the island was not a reason of the Cyprus problem, but it was an outcome of the problem, adding that therefore, it was out of question to send the Turkish army from the island before the problem was solved.

 

TURKISH PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

 

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul sent on Sunday a message to Talat to celebrate his Peace and Freedom Day, his office said.

 

"There are two politically-equal nations, democracies and states in Cyprus," Gul said in his message, adding peace and tranquility could be secured in Cyprus only by a solution based on facts in the island.

 

"Turkey, as a guarantor state, backs the target to establish a new partnership in Cyprus," Gul also said.