Turkish Cypriots want talks to break deadlock

A three-man Turkish Cypriot delegation met members of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday as part of their campaign to encourage the Greek Cypriot government on the island to enter talks.

This follows proposals made in August by Mr Rauf Denktash, President of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC), aimed at breaking the current deadlock between both communities. The TRNC is not recognised internationally, except by Turkey.

Led by Dr Necati Munir Ertekun, special adviser to the President of the TRNC, the delegation included Mr Resat Caglar, director-general of the Republic's Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministry, and Mr Hakki Muftuzade, its London representative. Ms Engin Asula, First Secretary at the Turkish embassy in Ireland, attended the meeting as an observer.

Mr Denktash proposed the establishment of a Cyprus Federation "as a final effort to achieve a mutually acceptable lasting solution in Cyprus". This federation would be based on a mutual recognition of the special relationships both communities have with Greece and Turkey and on the revival of the 1960 guarantee system which operated under the joint republic which continued on the island until 1963.

The federation, it was also proposed, could pursue a policy of accession to the EU, if both parties jointly agree. However, until Turkey became a full EU member a special arrangement would agree that Turkey could have full rights and obligations of an EU member (such as Greece) with regard to the Cyprus federation.

The aim of new talks between the two sides would be a partnership settlement with rights and powers not referred to the confederal entity residing with both confederate states. Any agreement resultant from talks would be subject to separate referendums in both communities.

In submitting the proposals, Mr Denktash said that "by participating in these negotiations both parties will acknowledge that the Greek and Turkish sides are two sovereign and equal states, each with its own functioning democratic institutions and jurisdiction, reflecting the political equality and will of their respective peoples. They will also acknowledge that the authorities of one party do not represent the other."

If the Greek Cypriots agreed to this, "we are ready to begin negotiations to establish the Cyprus Confederation", he said. For its part, the Greek Cypriot government regards the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus as an "illegal entity".