Turkish Cyprus might be annexed to Turkey, Minister says

Turkish Cyprus could be annexed to Turkey if ongoing talks between Turkish and Greek Cypriots for reunification fail to produce a solution, Turkey's minister for European Union Affairs has said. Egemen Bagis, in remarks published in Turkish Cypriot newspaper Kibris, said all options are on table regarding the fate of Cyprus, private news stations NTV reported on Sunday. "Reunification under a deal that [Turkish and Greek Cypriot] leaders could reach, creation of two independent states after an agreement between the two leaders if they are unable to reach a deal for reunification, or annexation of the TRNC to Turkey. These are all options on the table," Bagis said. Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias have been holding talks to reunite the island, but the two sides are unable to report any significant progress from the talks, under way since 2008. Bagis said the Turkish government would support any formula that Eroglu and Christofias would be able sell to their respective communities. "This includes reunification or failure of reunification; the important thing is that the two leaders manage to get sufficient public support. We, as Turkey, are concerned about only one thing, which is political equality on the island," Bagis said. NTV reported that Bagis' remarks have already elicited protests from the TRNC opposition. Main opposition Republican Turks Party (CTP) leader Ozkan Yorgancioglu condemned the EU affairs minister's remarks, saying the idea of annexing the TRNC to Turkey is unacceptable. Cyprus' division affects Turkey's own membership bid at the EU as well, given that Greek Cyprus -internationally recognized as representing the entire island- has been blocking progress in the already stalled Turkish membership process since it joined the bloc as a full member in 2004. Turkey has already declared that it will suspend dialogue with the EU presidency when Greek Cyprus takes over the rotating term presidency of the 27-nation bloc in July. In the meantime, Giulio Terzi, Italy's foreign minister, emphasized that concrete progress had to be achieved with regard to negotiations over the political future of the island. He made the comments during a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul on Saturday.