Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said Monday they wished that an agreement would be reached in Cyprus negotiations by the end of 2010 and that the agreement would be irreversible.

Our wish is to reach a solution in Cyprus by the end of 2010. If this does not happen, it would not be end of the world. It is not right to leave a conflict in procrastination forever, Cicek said.

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Dervis Eroglu received Cemil Cicek and an accompanying delegation who arrived in Lefkosa to join in the celebrations of "July 20 Peace and Freedom Day".

Cicek congratulated Eroglu for having been elected as the TRNC's new President.

The negotiations in Cyprus have come to an important phase. We hope for a peaceful solution that is irreversible. As Turkey, we watch with appreciation and extend support to your efforts, Cicek underlined.

The Cyprus problem is one of the oldest conflicts in the world and there must be a result. We share the notion that a solution preserving the legal rights and equality of the people of the TRNC would contribute to the stability of the region, Cicek said.

Achieving a result in Cyprus can not happen with the efforts of one side, Cicek said.

There can not be love with the efforts of one side only, Cicek underlined.

We want a permanent peace in Cyprus. The Greek Cypriots must desire such a peace as much as we do, Cicek said.

The Greek Cypriot side wants to portray that a lack of a solution in Cyprus was due to the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey. The Greek Cypriots are procrastinating in finding a solution, Cicek said.

Nevertheless, we will continue together the negotiations with a constructive attitute.

We will continue to extend support to you. It is our wish to reach a solution in Cyprus by the end of 2010. If this does not happen, it would not be the end of the world. It is not right to leave a conflict in procrastination forever. I congratulate the Turkish Cypriots on the 36th anniversary of their "July 20 Peace and Freedom Day", Cicek said.

TRNC President Dervis Eroglu, in his part, said that he continued the negotiations in Cyprus with all the good will.
Yet, a solution in Cyprus can not take place with my efforts alone. The Greek Cypriot side must carry a will for compromise. The Greek Cypriots must accept the fact that the Turkish Cypriots have the right to live on the island just as much as the Greek Cypriots do, Eroglu stressed.
Turkey's support to the negotiations process is highly important, President Eroglu said.
We have told the Greek Cypriots that their interlocutor was the TRNC when the Greek Cypriots tried to accuse Turkey at the negotiations table, Eroglu underlined.
The negotiations in Cyprus will continue and we will try to reach a result by the end of 2010, Eroglu also said.

-PEACE OPERATION-

The Greek Cypriots, who wanted to exclude Turkish Cypriots from the ''Republic of Cyprus'' on December 21, 1963 and annex the island with Greece by achieving Enosis (union with Greece), could not achieve their target thanks to resistance of Turkish Cypriots and warnings of Turkey.
However, the Greek Cypriots have never abandoned their intention. Greek Cypriots, who supported EOKA which was against delay in Enosis, and the military junta in Greece had made a military coup against Makarios, the ''president of Cyprus'', in order to achieve Enosis as soon as possible.
Many Turkish Cypriot people had been killed when resisting to Greek Cypriot attacks for 11 years since 1963 and they had to live under blockade.
Turkey, which used its rights under the international agreements, launched Cyprus Peace Operation on July 20, 1974 to ensure safety of Turkish Cypriots and settle peace in the island.
Turkish Cypriot people declared July 20, 1974 as Peace and Freedom Day since it brought peace to the island and freedom to themselves.