Denktash is back

Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar today reports that according information from reliable sources, the newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has already chosen his negotiating team and they are: Dr. Dervis Eroglu, Rauf Denktas (Advisor of the Negotiating Team), Ata Atun, Serdar Denktas (Chief Negotiator), Ismet Kotak, Taner Etkin, Huseyin Ozgurgun, Vedat Celik and Ergun Olgun.

Moreover, Kibris reports that Eroglu has said that President Christofias called him and congratulated him for his victory in the “elections” last Sunday and expressed his wish that the Cyprus talks start immediately.

Eroglu said Christofias is in favour of the continuation of the talks and that he agrees, adding that they would most probably resume in May.

Mr Eroglu alleged that the Turkish side wants a solution to be reached in Cyprus by the end of 2010, as Prime Minister Erdogan has stated. However, he added, what the Greek Cypriot side wants is also important on this issue. He also said that he had already decided who would be on his negotiating team but could not reveal the names just yet.

Mr Eroglu said that officials from Turkey called him and congratulated him and noted that after his oath-taking ceremony on Friday he will meet with the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmet Davutoglu, who will probably be attending the ceremony. He said they might have the opportunity to make more detailed evaluations during Davutoglu’s visit.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Hurriyet reports that Eroglu in an interview said he has always worked in the most harmonious manner with Turkey and intended

to carry on with the negotiations by consulting and being in full harmony with Turkey.

“We will continue the negotiations from the point they were left”, he said adding that he was committed to the UN parameters. “However, we should fill in these parameters by protecting the interests of the Turkish Cypriot people and Turkey”.

He stressed: “We will not be the side which leaves the negotiations”.

He said that Talat had discussed only the chapters of governance, the EU and economy and full agreement was not reached on any of these issues. “There is a plan put on the table by the Turkish side on the issue of governance. I have opposed the ‘cross voting’ system included in the plan, which had the logic of ‘take it or leave it’. However, the Greek Cypriots do not accept this plan as a whole. Now we will continue to negotiate these six chapters in a constructive manner”, he said.

He said that he, like Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, also wants to find a win-win formula. “Of course we want a solution and we support only a viable

solution where both sides will win”. However, he stressed, “as Turkey has noted, these negotiations cannot last forever. The Greek Cypriots should make a step on this issue. The lifting of the isolations applied on the TRNC and the approval of the shelved report, which was prepared during the UN Secretary – General Kofi Annan period and provides for the lifting of the unnecessary isolations, might put pressure on the Greek Cypriots”.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement officially congratulated Eroglu on his election and thanked Talat for the leadership and vision he has shown which brought the negotiations to a promising stage.

“A settlement which would satisfy all concerned parties can be achieved soon if the Greek Cypriot side displays the necessary contribution with the same good will”, the statement said. “The determination of the Turkish Cypriot people to preserve its rights and freedom as the equal co-owner of the island is a common value which ensures its unity for the national cause” it went on concluding that Turkey would continue “to support the Turkish Cypriot people in all fields and under all circumstances and fulfill its legal and historical responsibilities with utmost sensitivity and determination”.

Following the elections in the north, the international community has issued calls for the Cyprus talks to continue.

Ankara Anatolia reported from the United Nations that UN Spokesman Martin Nesirky said the United Nations expected extensive talks in Cyprus to continue as agreed by parties and in line with the related UN Security Council resolutions. Nesirky said the UN would work with both sides to determine when they would resume talks, adding that the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer would come to New York to meet with Senior UN officials on the issue.Moreover, the European Commission issued a statement also urging that the Cyprus talks continue.

“Now that Mr Eroglu has been elected leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, it is crucial that the settlement talks go on. The Commission encourages Mr Eroglu to continue in a constructive spirit the efforts towards settlement and reunification”, a statement said.

“Mr Talat and Mr Christofias had achieved important progress in shaping a settlement that would reunite the island on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. This was highly appreciated by President Barroso”.

The statement added that the Commission and the European Union are fully committed to supporting efforts at reaching a settlement of the Cyprus problem, which would be to the benefit of Cyprus and the EU in general and would continue to offer full support to the leaders' efforts towards a comprehensive settlement.