President Mehmet Ali Talat’s Statement on September 1 World Peace Day to Anatolia News Agency

Talat: ''Today is September 1 World Peace Day. Of Course, in Line With Today’s Spirit, Our Biggest Desire is to Solve the Cyprus Problem as Soon as Possible”

TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat said that his biggest desire is to solve the Cyprus problem as soon as possible, in line with the spirit of September 1 World Peace Day. “September 5 is an important opportunity in this regard,” said Talat.

Asked about his expectations from the September 5 meeting with Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos, President Talat said that his biggest expectation is to reach a permanent and comprehensive solution.

Talat said that they want the Cyprus problem to be solved as soon as possible. “Today is September 1 World Peace Day. Of course, our biggest desire is to solve the Cyprus problem in line with today’s spirit and importance. But it is not enough to desire. We have to personally contribute to the solution. We have to personally solve the problem.”

President Talat said that he is in the position to solve the problem and he is aware of this responsibility.

“We, as the Turkish Cypriot side, have extended our hand in peace to the Greek Cypriot side for many years now,” said Talat. “Since the 2004 referenda, the solution of the Cyprus problem has been our fundamental goal. September 5 is an important opportunity for this. Our constant calls, since 2004, to come together and solve the problem resulted in a meeting on July 8. This is the second response to our calls. I am hoping that this second meeting will not lead to an approach of postponing the solution of the Cyprus problem, as the July 8 meeting did. I am hoping that this meeting will lead to the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem as soon as possible. I will do everything in my capacity to achieve this goal. We are going to the meeting with good will and with no preconditions. We are going to the meeting to open the way for a solution and to prepare the ground. I am hopeful.”

President Talat, responding to a question on whether or not the Greek Cypriot side accepted to meet because of the upcoming elections, said whatever the reason, everything begins with an inducement. He stated that there are allegations that the Greek Cypriot side accepted to meet due to internal political reasons:

“But still,” continued Talat. “The Cyprus problem affects many international and national developments. Not only national, but international developments, because the Cyprus problem has turned into an international problem, whether we like it or not. And thus, internal and external factors all influence this international problem. This meeting is taking place not only due to internal factors. It is taking place also due to international factors. The international arena, be it the European Union, the United Nations, and individual countries and institutions, have been pressuring for, desiring, encouraging, whatever you would like to call it, a meeting between the two leaders for the solution of the Cyprus problem. Thus both, internal and external factors brought this meeting about. For that reason, we have to leave aside how we came together, and work to get a positive outcome. I hope that the Greek Cypriot side also realizes urgently that a solution is necessary and that we have success in the end.''