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30 January 2004
Source: Cyprus Weekly
Author: Menelaos Hadjicostis
Talat vows to work with Ankara on solution
MEHMET Ali Talat vowed to work closely with Turkey for a swift Cyprus
solution to spare Ankara from the diplomatic problem of a divided island
joining the EU as his new administration won a vote of confidence in
the Turkish Cypriot “parliament” this week.
“The most important thing is to find a solution till May 1, 2004,”
said the Turkish Cypriot “Prime Minister” on his return from Ankara on
Wednesday.
“The Greek Cypriot side will join the EU on May 1 and if we fail to
find a solution by this date, Turkey will face serious obstacles such
as its own EU process,” Talat added.
Tatat may not entirely be Ankara’s lap dog, but he’s fully aware of
who’s calling the shots.
And even if his views on the Annan plan may differ from Ankara’s,
he has been extremely careful not to tip his hand on the UN blueprint
lest he incur the wrath of Ankara eager to get the ball rolling again on
settlement talks.
Not important
Asked what he considers to be non-negotiable on the Annan plan,
Talat said his views aren’t important given the fact that there more
“players” involved in the process.
“I cannot say what our conditions are on the Annan plan for the
time being because we have to say them at the negotiating table,” said
Talat.
Talat even softened his stance on Rauf Denktash’s role as chief
Turkish Cypriot negotiator in settlement talks.
Despite strong pre-election opposition to keeping the veteran
leader in charge of talks for the Turkish Cypriot side, Talat suggested
Denktash’s presence may not matter all that much, since everyone would
have to bend to the will of Ankara.
“It is wrong to say that this job could not be done since there is a
person (Denktash) in this process who has become the symbol of
non-solution,” said Talat.
There was little chance of Talat’s administration losing a vote of
confidence in “parliament,” to plunge the north into crisis and risk
spoiling Ankara’s plans for a swift resumption of talks - a development
that Ankara feels would go a long way in persuading EU chiefs to give it
a date for starting its own accession talks.
Twenty six “deputies” voted for the two-party coalition, 18 against
and six from Mustafa Akinci’s Peace and Democracy Movement abstained.
Crucial
And as Talat pointed out, a deal by May 1 is seen as crucial in
both occupied Nicosia and Ankara so that Turkey to avoid finding itself
in sticky situations if only the government-controlled areas joins the
EU.
“When we take all these issues into consideration, we have to find a
solution to the Cyprus problem by May,” said Talat.
Talat appeared negative on Kofi Annan acting as arbitrator in talks
to “fill in blanks” on the blueprint if negotiating time runs out or
the two sides can’t agree.
But he was careful not speak out on speculation of a possible
return of Alvaro de Soto in the role of UN mediator in talks.
Clashed
This clashed with Akinci’s view that De Soto’s return would be a
plus to the time-pressed talks since the Peruvian diplomat - distrusted
in some quarters for his handling of talks at the December, 2002
Copenhagen EU summit - knows the issue inside-out.
Akinci is against keeping talks open-ended, preferring instead a
firm deadline, so that a deal would be set to simultaneous referenda in
both communities to meet the May 1 target date."
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