Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.03.12) reports that the former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat referred to the Cyprus problem yesterday in statements to a television channel and argued that both sides are following the “put to sleep and blaming the other side policy”. Talat alleged that “it was known from the very beginning that the story would end in this manner”, because the Greek Cypriot side was not in a hurry. Talat argued that the Turkish Cypriot side should be the fast moving one, but the process was not developed in this manner, as it is heading fast towards a deadlock. Talat said that actually a deadlock exists now, but “we are playing in extra time”.
Talat alleged that both sides are implementing the “put to sleep and blaming the other side policy” and argued that “even if this game ends 0-0, the Turkish side will lose”, because it will still not be recognized and the “isolation” will continue. Talat said that the only thing that will save the Turkish Cypriot side is the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Talat argued that in case the UN accuses the Turkish side for a possible failure in the negotiations, the Turkish Cypriots will lose the prestige which they allegedly gained until today and this might be reflected even in the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Replying to a question on the attitude of UN Secretary-General’s Special Advisor on Cyprus Alexander Downer towards the Turkish side, Talat said that Downer is doing the right thing, that his duty is to lead the talks to success and he has to exert every effort for achieving this. “In this context, meeting with political parties, trade unions, the civil society is a part of his duties”, he added.
Talat argued that chaos exists in the occupied area of Cyprus, that the economy is in a bad situation and that the people are worried about the future. He expressed the view that their duty is to save the people from this uncertainty for the future by finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.
Talat referred once again to the issue of cross voting and noted that this is a system that will be used only in the election of the rotating president.
Asked to comment on the recent statement by Turkish EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis that he was offended (by the reaction of the Turkish Cypriots to his earlier statements), Talat said that this was normal and that the sensitivities of everybody should be taken into consideration. Talat noted that he could not understand why such statements were made and added: “There are no sympathizers of the Greeks here. There are only people who think differently about the future of the Turkish Cypriots. However, all these unrests show that there is a serious lack of communication”.
Replying to another question, Talat said that he should be more active in politics and that he should contribute in the debate for finding ways out of this chaos towards which the Turkish Cypriots are heading.
