Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan Friday said that the opportunity of the ongoing comprehensive negotiation about the Cyprus issue should be well-evaluated.
"However, it is also important to conclude these negotiations in a reasonable period of time," Babacan told a joint press conference with his visiting Dutch counterpart Maxime Verhagen in the Turkish capital of Ankara.
For his part, Verhagen welcomed the resumption of Cyprus talks, and underlined importance of reaching a solution at the end of the negotiations.
The top Dutch diplomat also said that the problem should be settled within UN framework and it was not reasonable to intervene in the negotiations right now.
Verhagen said any progress made in trade relations with northern Cyprus and the Ankara protocol could be conducive to a final settlement.
In early September, Cypriot President and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias launched substantive reunification talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. Both are considered as pro-solution politicians after long time stalemate in the Cyprus issue since a UN blueprint failed to gain the support of Greek Cypriots in 2004.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish military intervened and controlled the north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers.
In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot authorities declared the establishment of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which is recognized only by Ankara.
Turkey maintains some 40,000 troops in the self-proclaimed "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which remains a key issue in the revived peace process aimed at reunifying the island.
For several decades, the United Nations has continuously worked to persuade the two sides to find a solution to the Cyprus issue, which is also a main obstacle to Turkey's bid for EU membership.
Source: Xinhua
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