The Turkish Cypriots would like to see a referendum on a solution of the Cyprus problem held within 2014, but the Greek Cypriot leadership and the National Council oppose such a development, Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu said this weeks, days before the completion of the 40th anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey on July 20, 1974.
In a statement, Eroglu said that the five-step roadmap tabled by his side aims at holding a referendum on a set date. He argued that lack of a roadmap would mean that the two sides will continue negotiating for “another 40 years”.
According to Eroglu, the Turkish Cypriot side aspires to a comprehensive solution.
With regard to territory, he said that the Turkish Cypriot side had proposed criteria for a map in the January 2011 Geneva meeting, at which the UN Secretary General had expressed his satisfaction.
The Turkish Cypriot leader claimed that he proposed discussing the map one week prior to a summit with the guarantor powers – the UK, Greece and Turkey – but the Greek Cypriot side has yet to consent to such a summit.
According to Eroglu, this is not the time to discuss the map as it will impact the public and economic activity, adding that such discussion can be deferred until after agreement on a referendum and the summit have been achieved.
Eroglu reiterated his position that the issue of Famagusta will be addressed as part of the broader territory issue.
Source: cyprus-mail