Leading business organizations of Turkey, Greece, Greek Cypriot administration and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) extended support to Cyprus peace process carried out by TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias.

Executives of Greek Cypriot Employers & Industrialists Federation (OEB), Turkish Cypriot Businessmen Association (SAD), Greek Federation of Enterprises (SEV) and Turkish Industrialists' & Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) held a joint press conference in Lefkosa on Thursday.

They called on two parties in Cyprus to pursue peace talks with goodwill to reach a comprehensive and permanent solution for Cyprus problem.

The executives said that the required dynamic for economic development of the island as a whole would be based on economic integrity of Cyprus. They expressed belief that any opportunity for solution should not be missed.

Talat and Christofias had their 22nd meeting on Wednesday within the scope of comprehensive talks to find a solution to Cyprus problem since September 11, 2008.

Cyprus talks, which was interrupted when Greek Cypriots rejected a United Nations (UN) plan (Annan plan for solution of the Cyprus issue) in the twin referendums held on April 24, 2004, resumed in September 11, 2008 following the victory of Demetris Christofias, AKEL chairman, in the presidential election held in Greek Cypriot part of the island.

Following a four-year halt in negotiations, Turkish Cypriot President Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Christofias got together on September 3, 2008 to shape the procedure of extensive talks.

Extensive talks began on September 11, 2008 under the "administration and power sharing" topic.

Cyprus joined the EU as a divided island when Greek Cypriots in the south of island rejected the UN reunification plan in 2004 even though the Turkish Cypriots in the north overwhelmingly supported it. The promise made by EU foreign ministers before the referenda to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and establish direct trade with North Cyprus remains unfulfilled.

Gaining independence from the UK in 1960, Cyprus became a bi-communal republic where Greek and Turkish Cypriot constituent communities would share power guaranteed by the UK, Turkey and Greece. However, reluctant to share power and pursuing a policy of Enosis (union) with Greece, Greek Cypriots soon expelled Turkish Cypriots from power and terrorised and ghettoised them.

Decades long armed attacks on the defenseless Turkish Cypriots culminated in 1974 when an Athens-backed Greek Cypriot military coup on the island led to Turkey's military intervention. Although the Republic of Cyprus as described in the 1959 agreements is no longer there, Greek Cypriots continue to enjoy this title and international recognition while the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a fully democratic government representing Turkish Cypriots, still suffers under an unfair political and economic blockade.


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