Toptan urges EU to end unfair isolation of Turkish Cypriots

Turkey will determinedly continue to support full-fledged talks between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot administration towards a comprehensive, fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said late last week during an official visit to the TRNC. As part of his visit, Toptan was received by President Mehmet Ali Talat and Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu in Lefkosa. Speaking to reporters while receiving Toptan, Talat expressed hope that a just and permanent peace on Cyprus would be reach at the end of the current talks, adding that they want to see a solution on the island by year's-end. For his part, Toptan said that Turkey would continue to support the TRNC in all areas, as it always has. "We expect the ongoing negotiations on Cyprus to yield a positive outcome without concessions from basic principles, and the European Union to fulfill its duties to end the unfair isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriots." Stressing that Turkey and the TRNC have the same views on the issue, he said, "We have never regarded a deadlock as a solution. The hastiness with which the EU accepted the Greek Cypriot administration as a member (in 2004) caused difficulties in solving the Cyprus problem." Toptan also met with his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Hasan Bozer. During the meeting, Toptan said, "Our relations have the goal of establishing a just and permanent peace on Cyprus. Turkey supports the ongoing comprehensive talks between President Talat and the Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias. In order to facilitate a permanent and just solution to the Cyprus issue, the existence of two separate communities, two separate sovereignties, two separate democracies and two separate states must be accepted." Toptan also met with Turkish Peace Forces Commander Gen.