Gül discusses Cyprus road map with Eroğlu

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Turkish President Abdullah Gül (R) and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Derviş Eroğlu meet in Ankara. DHA photo

Turkish and Turkish Cypriots leaders met yesterday to discuss the state of the island’s reunification talks amid new proposals by the United Nations on propery and power-sharing.

President Abdullah Gül and Turkish Cypriot President Derviş Eroğlu chaired a meeting in Ankara with just weeks left until the United Nations releases its report. Eroğlu also met with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu late yesterday.

During the meetings, the leaders conducted an overall review of the talks while also discussing the road map the Turkish side will follow if Greek Cyprus continues to “drag its feet” on an agreement before July 1, sources said yesterday.

“We still believe that an agreement is possible before July 1,” Turkish diplomatic sources said, adding that Turkey would continue to be constructive in striving for a breakthrough.

New proposals on property and power-sharing

July 1 is the date when Greek Cyprus will assume the term presidency of the European Union; Turkey, however, has said it will halt political dialogue with Brussels for the duration of the Greek Cypriot term presidency unless a reunification deal is in place before then.

Alexander Downer, special representative of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, also reportedly made new proposals on property and power-sharing, although details of the suggestions were not released. Downer, who has been tasked with reporting on the issues of property, power-sharing and citizenship in the talks, is expected to issue the U.N. report later in the month.

Ban will invite the two communities, as well as the three guarantor countries – Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom – for an international conference aimed at finalizing a blueprint to reunite the divided island. Turkey has accused Greek Cyprus of dragging out the negotiating process until its presidential elections in early 2013.