PRESIDENT TALAT: GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION’S INSISTENCE ON SEEING THE TURKISH PEACE FORCES IN CYPRUS AS ITS `SOLE ENEMY` IS THE MAIN OBSTACLE IN THE WAY OF A SOLUTION TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM 

President Mehmet Ali Talat has said that the Greek Cypriot Administration’s insistence on seeing the Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus as its `sole enemy` is the main obstacle in the way of a solution to the Cyprus problem.

The President’s words are in reaction to an earlier statement by the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopulos, who called the Turkish Armed Forces as their `only enemy`.

President  Talat said the statement has proved once again that Papadopulos will reject any initiative aimed at finding a solution to the problem, but he repeated that the Turkish Cypriot Side will continue its efforts towards a solution despite of the Greek Cypriot Side’s negative attitude.

President Mehmet Ali Talat told the TAK news agency that Mr Papadopulos gave the message that his only objective is to spread the sovereignty of the Greek Cypriot Administration to the whole island.
“This is a proof that Papadopulos has been using the 8-July process to achieve this objective` he noted.

The President said, by addressing the Turkish Army as their sole enemy, the Greek Cypriot Leader has sent a wrong message to his people about the real causes of the Cyprus problem.

`This is the proof that he does not know the Cyprus problem and that he does not have the capacity to contribute to the efforts aimed at reaching a settlement in Cyprus` the President said.

‘Everyone knows that Turkish troops are in Cyprus on the basis of the rights stemming from standing international agreement. This need arose because of the plans – like the Akritas Plan, which was drawn up by Greek Cypriots who included Papadopulos himself – with the aim of spreading their sovereignty over the whole island` the President noted.

Mr Talat went on to say that the presence of the Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus is one of the fundamental factors in maintaining the public order and security and that this fact has also been observed by Greek Cypriots visiting the North.

He pointed out that violent attacks between 1963 and 1974 were put to an end by the Turkish Peace Forces.

The President said that the main obstacle in the way of a solution is the Greek Cypriot Leadership’s insistence to present the Turkish Armed Forces as their `sole enemy` and the Cyprus problem, as an issue of `occupation of the island by Turkey`.

He said that Papadopulos who still thinks that the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island will be enough to bring a solution to the Cyprus problem, will continue to be the main obstacle in the way of a solution.

`An important step will be taken towards a solution on the day when the Greek Cypriot Leadership will accept the fact that the Cyprus problem can only be solved by a comprehensive agreement to be reached between the two peoples of the island as two politically equal partners in Cyprus, the President said.