Solution or two states

There will either be a solution or recognition of the TRNC, Turkish President Abdullah Gul told British Prime Minister David Cameron during an official visit he paid to London this week.

According to Politis, he urged the British to do all they could now so that a solution can be achieved by June 2012 when Cyprus takes over the EU presidency. Otherwise there will be two states in Cyprus, as former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said would happen, he added. Many opportunities have been lost, he said, because they had insisted on things that could not be achieved.

Moreover, Bayrak television reported that, speaking at a joint press conference with the British Prime Minister, Gul said that both Turkey and Britain, as guarantor powers in Cyprus, supported the process and both sides in Cyprus needed to be encouraged to go for a settlement.

"I specifically emphasised that if the European Union fails to act with a strong political will, the reunification of the island might become impossible due to the Greek Cypriot side's unwillingness for a solution," Gul said.

Also, according to Turkey’s official website, Gul told members of the House of Commons that the EU Presidency of such a “half government” demonstrates a weakness on the part of the EU.

Reporting on comments Gul made to journalists on the plane on his way back from London, Politis says he said he had told Cameron that he hoped that a decision for reunification of the island would be reached, as this was the right time for this to happen.

“After that we will head towards two separate states when you too will be forced to recognise that which we already recognise”, he is reported to have said.

Gul said his hopes were that agreement could be reached by the end of the year, for there to be a new plan and then a referendum.