Leftwing ruling AKEL and the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) reaffirmed on Tuesday their joint commitment to work, supporting direct negotiations between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, towards reaching a solution of the Cyprus problem the soonest possible, which would be acceptable by both communities on the island.
Delegations of the two parties, headed by AKEL General Secretary Antros Kyprianou and CTP leader Ferdi Sabit Soyer, met at AKEL headquarters in Nicosia and agreed to tackle with determination any efforts to undermine the direct negotiations, and also agreed to continue meetings in the future.
Speaking after the meeting, Kyprianou said ''we have reaffirmed our joint commitment that the two parties will work, supporting efforts made by the leaders of the two communities, in order to reach the soonest possible a solution, which will be acceptable by both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.''
''We have also agreed that we will tackle with determination any efforts made to undermine the effort of the leaders of the two communities to continue the dialogue and reach a solution of the Cyprus problem. I would like to clarify that we are working for a bizonal bicommunal federation solution, with political equality, as interpreted in relevant UN resolutions. We want a united state to be formed, with a single sovereignty, a single international identity and a single citizenship,'' Kyprianou said.
Speaking through an interpreter, Soyer said they had ''a very beneficial and very friendly meeting'' and that ''today's meeting between the leaderships of CTP and AKEL gives a mid-Summer cool breath of peace.''
Soyer said ''it is high time to reunite our common homeland,'' adding that ''we all want to reach the soonest possible a federal solution.''
''This is not just an obligation or a duty we have to fulfill, an obligation to the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, but an obligation and a duty that will help the enlargement of the EU, the promotion of democracy, and will also contribute in the direction of developing peace and cooperation among the peoples of Greece and Turkey,'' he said.
The Turkish Cypriot politician noted that a solution of the Cyprus problem could only be reached through dialogue and assured that the two parties would continue their meetings.
Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus have been engaged in UN-led direct negotiations since September 2008, with an aim to reunite the island.
