Turkish Cypriot leader says peace talks should be solved by end-2009

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

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Talat arrived in Istanbul from France, after completing his talks with Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Talat said he held “quite fruitful” talks with the Swedish foreign minister, and that he had the chance to explain the Turkish Cypriot stance on the solution for the Cyprus issue, the Anatolian Agency reported.

The latest situation regarding the Cyprus issue was discussed during Talat’s meeting with the U.N. head. "We have expressed during the meeting that we desired the U.N. to play a more active role in the process," he said, adding that the U.N. leader did not express an opinion, but had listened to his remarks.

Talat was optimistic regarding about talks aimed at reunifying the island which as been divided since 1964 when Turkish Cypriots were forced to withdraw into enclaves. "There is no reason for not concluding this matter. Cyprus issue can be and should be solved by the end of 2009," Talat said.

Progress in the talks that were launched last September has been slow, and although neither side sees permanent partition as an option, they have been unable to agree on how the island will be reunited.

Talat said the European Union (EU) had made a promise to make the necessary "adaptation" regarding the solution to be found in Cyprus. "If the EU does not make such an adjustment, it will hamper the solution process with its own hands," Talat said.