LEFKOSA, TRNC
The president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Dervis Eroglu, said Sunday that he would not approve any deal which increased the burden of Turkish Cypriots.
TRNC sought an agreement which would benefit Turkish Cypriots and guarantee their rights said Eroglu, referring to the progressing peace talks for which an initial deal was signed early February.
The president said “embargo and isolation” policies against Turkish Cyprus were unfair since they have favored reconciliation and agreement, speaking to press after a meeting in the capital Lefkosa.
The leaders of both sides had announced a joint declaration on unifying the island under a federation of two states in February. A similar deal in 2004 failed after Greek Cypriots refused it, though the Turkish side voted in favor of the plan.
The island of Cyprus has remained divided into Greek and Turkish parts since a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by a Turkish peace mission to aid Turkish Cypriots in the north in 1974.
The Greek Cypriot administration is a member of the European Union and is internationally recognized, except by Turkey, which is the only country that recognizes the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
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