ANKARA
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said a permanent and fair solution in Cyprus is beneficial for islanders and the international community, especially the EU.
Addressing a joint press conference with his newly-elected Turkish Cypriot counterpart Mustafa Akinci on Wednesday, Erdogan said: “Greek Cypriots should no longer make things difficult. Instead, they need to put in a sincere effort. If this happens, we believe 2015 will be the ‘solution year’ for Cyprus.”
The Turkish president said that to resolve the “Cyprus issue,” Greece "should make the necessary contribution for solution," and join efforts with Turkey.
"We will continue to encourage Greece in this regard," Erdogan added.
Erdogan also reiterated Turkey's ongoing support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
"We will give our support as always," he said. "We will stand by the president and his delegation."
President Erdogan also highlighted Turkey's water supply project to Turkish Cypriots, describing it as "the project of the century."
"The project will hopefully be completed around July or August," Erdogan added.
The Northern Cyprus Water Supply Project, announced in January, is another major step taken toward the economic development of the island, providing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with water for the next 50 years.
Once completed, the project will supply annually around 75 million cubic meters of water to the island, according to the Turkish State Hydraulic Works.
The investment cost of the Alakopru and Gecitkoy dams to be built for this purpose is close to 80 million Turkish lira ($36.6 million), Turkey's Forestry and Water Affairs Minister Veysel Eroglu said in January.
The project will also be a first in terms of design, as water will be supplied from the southernmost point of Turkey to the northern part of the island through a 80-km (49.7-mile) pipeline under the Mediterranean Sea.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Mustafa Akinci also talked about the ongoing Cyprus issue, saying the parties on the island are "on the verge of a solution."
"The positive attitude of the international community is an extra support for us," Akinci said.
The dispute goes back to 1960, when the Treaty of Guarantee was signed between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots, along with the British government, over the island.
The treaty banned the island of Cyprus from participating in any political or economic union with any other state, as well as making other parties guarantee its independence, territorial integrity and security.
However, in 1963, only three years after the treaty was signed, the Turkish Cypriots were ousted by force from all organs of the new republic by their Greek-Cypriot partners, which violated the founding agreements and the constitution.
The Greek Cypriots, thereafter, claimed to represent the Republic of Cyprus, which was considered illegal and not recognized by Turkey.
Between 1964 and 1974, the international community made several peacemaking efforts that all ended in failure.
In 1974, an attempt by Greece to annex the island through a coup was made, which was resisted by a Turkish peace mission in accordance with the 1960 treaty.
Consequently, the Turkish Cypriots set up their own republic in 1983, while continuing the search for reconciliation.
The European Union recognizes the Greek-Cypriot administration in the island, but Turkey recognizes the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus diplomatically.
Cyprus came close to an agreement in April 2004 when a poll was taken to decide on the plan which aimed to unify the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities.
However, the stalemate lingers and the division remains unsolved as the proposal was backed by only 24 percent of Greek Cypriots, who claimed that it favored Turkish Cypriots. The plan received the support of 65 percent of Turkish Cypriots.
Negotiations between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots resumed after a two-year pause in February 2013. The previous round of talks had collapsed because of the eurozone debt crisis and the Greek Cypriot side's turn to occupy the EU presidency in 2012.
However, the Greek Cypriot administration suspended talks over the divided island on Oct. 7, 2014 after Turkey sent a ship to monitor an oil-and-gas exploration mission off the coast of Cyprus.
