Turkish Cypriots pessimistic on unification talks

 The newly-elected right-wing government of northern Cyprus said on Friday it was pessimistic that peace talks to unify the island would succeed.

Turkish Cypriots recently elected a government backing a two-state arrangement, anathema to Greek Cypriots. Turkey is the only country to recognise northern Cyprus as a state.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots launched peace talks in 2008 aimed at creating a state based on the two zones — Turkish and Greek — that have existed since the 1974 division of the island. Talks have been slow.

"Let alone the broader issues, the Greek Cypriot side is creating problems even on smaller issues. I am not optimistic for a solution, though I want to be," said Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun told a news conference in Ankara.

"As long as the peace talks are continuing we will not leave the table, but they cannot go on for ever," he said, adding "we need a schedule."

Northern Cypriots last month voted into power the hardline National Unity Party (UBP), a move seen as making unification talks more difficult.

Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat has started talks with Cypriot President Demetris Christofias, but the UBP has the power to make it more difficult for Talat to secure parliament's backing of any future deal.

The UBP advocates an outright two-state settlement on Cyprus, at odds with the federal model now being discussed by the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders.

Turkey has warned the UBP against blocking a settlement on the island, without which Greek Cypriots, who represent the island in the European Union, say they will block Turkey's admission to the EU.

Turkey is currently in protracted EU membership negotiations, but there is strong resistance to Ankara's entry among several member states.