Turkey’s new FM pushes peace talks in Cyprus

Turkey's new foreign minister said on Wednesday that Ankara would push for settlement in divided Cyprus, where Turkish Cypriots recently elected a government backing a two-state arrangement anathema to Greek Cypriots.
In his first trip since becoming minister after a wide cabinet reshuffle last week, Ahmet Davutoglu urged all sides to support Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, whose allies were routed in a parliamentary vote. Talat is leading peace talks with his Greek Cypriot counterpart Demetris Christofias.
"All sides including, the international courts, should support Talat's positive efforts for peace," Davutoglu told a news conference in Nicosia next to Talat.
He did not mention the right-wing National Unity Party (UBP) nor any particular side, but Turkey has warned the UBP against boycotting peace talks that hold the key to Turkey's aspirations to join the European Union.
The UBP advocates an outright two-state solution, at odds with the federal model being discussed by Talat and Christofias. It is not yet clear to what degree they may seek to influence or constrain Talat, who remains the most powerful political figure in northern Cyprus.
Turkey, the only country to recognise northern Cyprus as a state, exerts enormous influence on the Turkish Cypriots, supporting its economy and maintaining some 30,000 troops on the island.
While Talat's position as Turkish Cypriot leader has not been affected by the parliamentary defeat, the rise of the UBP has been a cause of concern for diplomats. They fear the UBP could complicate already fragile peace talks.
Talat and Christofias are leading talks on reunifying Cyprus as a federation of two ethnic regions with a greater or lesser degree of autonomy. Analysts and diplomats say this may be their last chance.
Parts of Turkey's EU entry talks are suspended because of the Cyprus conflict.
Last month, Turkey warned that a ruling by the European Union's top court that Greek Cypriot legal verdicts are binding throughout the bloc could hurt peace talks.
The European Court of Justice backed a man's attempt to reclaim land he left behind in northern Cyprus — a ruling that could encourage Greek Cypriots to take legal action against foreigners living in disputed properties in northern Cyprus.  (Reuters)