Erdogan, Talat discuss peace process on Cyprus

Wrapping up a two-day official visit to Ankara, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the meeting, the two exchanged views on the ongoing peace talks between Talat and Greek Cypriot administration leader Demetris Chrisofias towards a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue. Speaking to reporters after returning to the TRNC, Talat said that his talks in Ankara had been very fruitful, adding that such meetings would continue. "If the process of comprehensive negotiations speeds up by the end of this year and the Greek Cypriot administration cooperates, we hope to reach a result by completing the negotiations (to find a solution to the Cyprus issue) by year's-end," said Talat, adding that they also hope to hold a referendum by the beginning of next year. Dismissing Christofias' recent assertion that there is no need for Turkey to guarantee a possible solution to the issue, Talat also said the only guarantee system that can be trusted by the Turkish Cypriots is the current one in which Turkey is one of the guarantor states, adding that the European Union is unable to fill this role. Talat insisted their firm position has not changed on keeping guarantor rights. The guarantorship system, established by a 1959 agreement, secures Turkey's right to intervene in case of a constitutional breakdown or if Turkish Cypriots come under threat of attack.