New York - Greek Cypriot President Demetris Christofias on Wednesday vowed to work out a definitive settlement with the Turk Cypriot community to end the ethnic division and achieve a federal government on Cyprus. Christofias has been pursuing negotiations with Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Turkish Cypriots, in the last year. He now said that all Cypriots should agree on what they want and achieve it.
"For my part, I want to assure you from this podium that my political will to do what is necessary to solve the problem is firm and deep-rooted," he said in an address to the UN General Assembly.
He called for ending the presence of some 40,000 Turkish troops stationed since 1974 in northern Cyprus, home of Turkish Cypriots. He said that negotiations since September 3 between the two sides have been aimed at reaching mutually agreed terms for ending the division and for the withdrawal of Turkish forces.
"Turkey should contribute to the process in a positive way," Christofias said.
He said the issue of the military presence and Turkish settlers, if solved, could determine the outcome of the negotiations.
"We believe that the solution should benefit everybody and will benefit everybody," he said.
The UN Security Council has called for the establishment of bizonal, bi-communal federation with a single international personality for the problems in Cyprus. Such a formula would give Cyprus a single, indivisible sovereignty and single citizenship.
