President Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Thursday that Turkish Cypriot party gained advantage thanks to the determined policy it pursued on Cyprus talks.

Talat held a news conference to give information about the stage of the talks carried out with Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias since September 2008 aiming to find a comprehensive solution to Cyprus question.

Talat said Turkish and Greek Cypriot parties had been carrying out negotiations to find a comprehensive solution to Cyprus question within the scope of good will mission of the UN secretary general.

"The parties have had 71 talks in leaders' level so far and discussed all aspects of the Cyprus question. As the Turkish Cypriot side, we have progressed the talks on a ground which was stated within scope of joint statements on March 21, May 23, July 1, and July 25, 2008 as well as UN parameters," Talat said.

Talat said serious progress had been recorded on Administration and Share of Power as well as European Union and economic issues, adding "we have prepared 31 'joint documents' which included issues on which the parties have agreed or have not agreed yet."

Talat said preparation of "joint document" was a first in talks that continued for more than 40 years.

TRNC President Talat said problems on Cyprus question had become chronic and solution of the problem had become more difficult, and noted that membership of the Greek Cypriot party to the EU on behalf of the whole Cyprus before a comprehensive solution was found, made the solution more difficult.

He said this situation lessened motivation of Greek Cypriot party to find a solution.

Talat said "no" vote of the Greek Cypriot side to a comprehensive solution in 2004 and rejection of former Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos to start talks till 2008 caused loss of time.

Talat said, "Not a single UN secretary general report or a UN Security Council resolution have been released against Turkish Cypriot party since 2004."

TRNC President Talat thanked for the support and cooperation of Turkey in every level.

Talat said his talks with Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias had yet to produce any comprehensive agreement over how to reunify the divided island.

"For such an agreement we need to reach an accord on every issue, which we have not done yet. And there is no guarantee that we ever will," Talat said.

Meanwhile, an international law expert in Lefkosa, Tufan Erhurman, said that the constitutions of states to be established in Cyprus will be presented to referenda.

Erhurman gave information on the constitutions of the states to be established in a federation, how the power would be shared, the would-be organs of the federal government, foreign relations and citizenship.

The constitutions of the states to be established in Cyprus will be presented to referendums and the two states will have an equal status, Erhurman said.

The share of authority has to do with sovereignty and we are insisting on the equality of states, Erhurman said.

We have come close to an agreement on the legislation. There will be a senate and house of representatives. There will be equal representation within the senate, Erhurman said.

Erhuman said, "whatever court is established, there will be equal number of Turkish and Greek cypriots," and added that Turkish party asked for equal number in federal police. We also agreed on Public Services Commission."

Erhurman said Greek Cypriot side said, "you want equality in all institutions. Let us discuss representation issue in a package."

Erhurman said Turkish Cypriot party has very clear and legally comprehensive demands in foreign relations, adding that Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias made mention of 50,000 citizenship, however noted that Turkish Cypriot party was against this.

"We don't accept any numeral limit. Citizenship of the Turkish party should be accepted as citizenships given by the Greek Cypriot party are accepted. We are focusing on principle, not figures, on this issue," he noted.

Commenting of "Property" issue, Erhurman said there was not rapprochement paper on the issue because of the stance of Greek Cypriot party. "No agreement can be reached even if there is a principle view that Immoveable Property Commission will be established in the new state and property problem would be resolved through barter, compensation and restitution. Because Greek Cypriots defended that, 'all international agreements and human rights texts granted former owner of the property the right ask for restitution of the property."

"Turkish Cypriot party want Immoveable Property Commission to make a decision on the matter," Erhurman added.

Tufan Erhurman said the decision made by European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) dated March 5 constituted "a landmark" in real sense on "Property" topic. He said ECHR also accepted that barter, restitution and compensation were fair.

"This decision of ECHR is the reaffirmation of the position of the Turkish Cypriot party on the table. ECHR decision also draw the framework that property issue should be solved on the table," Erhurman said.

Meanwhile, Erhan Ercin, responsible for EU Coordination Center, gave information about the issues which the parties could agree or could not agree on EU matters.

Ercin said the parties agreed to establish EU Ministry, "if we think presence of two founder states, this will be good," he noted.

Ercin also said the parties reached a compromise to form a coordination group.

"We attach great importance to representations in EU institutions. We agreed that there will be four Greek Cypriot and two Turkish Cypriot members in the European Parliament," Ercin said adding that the parties agreed changing of commissioner in the European Commission to rotate, representation in European Union Court of Justice, General Court and rotating in Court of Account.

Ercin said committee of regions will have four Greek Cypriot and two Turkish Cypriot members and European Economic and Social Committee will have four Greek Cypriot and two Turkish Cypriot members.

On the other hand, Mustafa Besim, who gave information about the economic issues in the negotiations, said the parties agreed on forming an independent central bank under the topic of "Central Bank and finance issues".

Besim said implementation of decision of EU Central Bank was in question, noting that local currency would be euro.

He said, "we reached full consensus on appointment of central bank governor and his assistance for four years from different founder states." He said an independent institution would be responsible for regulation, inspection and supervision of insurance and capital markets.

Besim said the cypriot parties also agreed on money laundering and prevention of terrorism.

"Some part of the income of the federal government will be distributed to the founder states through a formula considering some criteria. Budget will be earmarked in the federal budget for the basis of the Turkish Cypriot founder state. ILO and Council of Europe standards will be applied in social security standards of the founder states. Retirement rights and benefits will be given mutually," Besim said.

Besim said there was a consensus of opinion in harmonization of the Turkish Cypriot economy to the EU, adding that studies were underway on formation of Central Bank executive board, foundation capital of the Central Bank that will be formed newly, and regulation, inspection and supervision of the cooperatives."

Meanwhile, Special Representative Ozdil Nami said rapprochement could not be reached on "Property", "Territory", "Security and Guarantees".

"Turkish Cypriot party clearly stated that it would not enter territory issue before a satisfactory result is obtained in all other topics," Nami said.

Nami said Greek Cypriot party admitted that progress on "Territory" topic should be go in parallel to the other topics and responded affirmatively to the demands of the Turkish Cypriot party not to talk about maps.

Nami said, "we don't want sectors, which have vital importance, to be damaged from the territory arrangement. We could not go beyond exchanging opinions on 'Territory'."

"Turkish Cypriot party demanded continuation of 1960 Guarantee and Alliance Agreement under the topic 'Security and Guarantees' and we preserved internal and external balances. Turkish Cypriots do not have confidence in any guarantee apart from Turkey's guarantee" Nami underlined.

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias have been holding talks since September 2008 to find a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

On March 30, the two leaders made a joint statement, and said, "after many meetings that have taken place to date, and our discussion on all aspects of the Cyprus problem we are encouraged by the important progress we have made so far on Chapters of Governance and power sharing, EU matters and the Economy and we are convinced that with perseverance we shall achieve comprehensive settlement. We underscore the fact that negotiations are being conducted under the overriding principle of the 'integrated whole approach' which means that 'nothing is agreed unless everything is agreed'."

AA