LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
The president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus said Friday that any future agreement between the two sides in the Cyprus dispute should be in accordance with EU law.
“Its importance is to block confrontation in the courts after an agreement,” said Dervis Eroglu speaking to the press at the presidential building in the TRNC capital Lefkosa after a meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades at the island’s UN Buffer Zone.
Eroglu said that if such an agreement was not considered permanent, then Turkish Cypriots would come under the rule of EU member Greek Cypriots.
“The agreement that we will achieve will be a new partnership state,” Eroglu added. “This is vital for us.”
The island has remained divided into Greek and Turkish zones since a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by a Turkish peace mission to aid Turkish Cypriots in the north in 1974.
The "solution" is expected to address issues such as a constitutional framework for the island, territorial adjustments, return of property or compensation payments to pre-1974 owners, the return of displaced people and possible repatriation of Turkish Cypriot settlers.
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognized solely by Turkey, whereas the Greek Cypriot administration is an EU member and recognized internationally.
A 2004 deal put forward by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to reunify the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities was defeated by a ‘no’ vote in a Cyprus-wide referendum.
Intermittent talks have since been inconclusive.
The stalled negotiations were resuscitated in February as part of a new initiative to resolve the conflict, with both sides’ leaders issuing a joint declaration on the path towards reunification.
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