NEWS

Talat aiming for vote on Cyprus next year

The leader of the Turkish-Cypriots, Mehmet Ali Talat, has suggested that a pressing timetable needs to be adopted in reunification talks on the island so that a referendum on its future can be held by next year. Talat said on Saturday that his side hopes to complete the first and second round of talks this summer, even though Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias is against the idea of introducing a fixed timetable. «We contemplate such a timetable,» Talat was quoted by Anatolia news as saying. «We know that the international community and the UN are positive on such a timetable. Greek Cypriots do not object to it, but they also do not voice it.» In an interview with Kathimerini’s Cyprus edition, Talat claimed that: «Time is running out» for a solution to be found. He also said it is vital that Turkey guarantee any peace deal if Turkish Cypriots are to support it.

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