ISTANBUL, 3 November 2005 — Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said yesterday he saw little hope of reviving the stalled Cyprus peace process following talks in New York with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Turkey, the only country to recognize Talat’s tiny enclave, fears lack of progress on the divided island’s problems could slow or even block its bid for EU entry, launched last month.
Cyprus joined the EU in 2004 under its internationally accepted Greek Cypriot government and has threatened to veto Turkey’s EU talks unless Ankara grants it recognition. Talat blamed the deadlock on Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos, who wants the EU to play a bigger role in any resumed peace talks and rejects deadlines for an agreement. “If Papadopoulos persists in his attitude of not wanting any time limit or any mediator, the start of (fresh) negotiations will remain in doubt,” Talat told a news conference in Istanbul airport after returning from New York. “The United Nations can only assume its mediatory role if the EU puts pressure on the Greek Cypriots for a solution.”
Last year, Greek Cypriots overwhelmingly rejected a peace plan drawn up under Annan’s auspices in a referendum held just days before they joined the EU.
“Mr Annan is reluctant to resume (negotiations) unless there is a guarantee of success and the parties show determination in seeking a Cyprus settlement,” Talat said.
