Turkish Cypriot leader reiterates desire to see solution in 2009

ANKARA, June 12 -- Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said on Friday his community in northern Cyprus wanted to see a solution in the divided island of Cyprus in 2009, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

Talat was quoted as saying that a just and permanent peace in Cyprus would be reached by negotiations, but an agreement would have to be approved by the Turkish Parliament.

He was speaking to reporters while receiving visiting Turkish Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan in Nicosia.

Last month, Talat said the chance of reaching a peace deal on the divided island by the end of 2009 or early 2010 was "quite high," adding it could be impossible to find another opportunity if this one was missed.

Turkey expected the negotiations in Cyprus to produce a positive result without making concessions from basic principles, and asked the European Union to fulfill its duties and put an end to the isolation imposed on Turkish Cypriots, Toptan was quoted by Anatolia as saying.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when the Turkish military intervened and occupied the island's north following a coup by a group of Greek officers.

Turkish Cypriot authorities in 1983 declared the establishment of the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Turkey.

After decades of division and repeated failures to find an acceptable solution, Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat restarted peace talks in 2008.

The two left-wing leaders have met weekly, trying to work out a solution based on a federation formula. The negotiations, however, moved slowly due to gaps between the two sides on many key issues, including power-sharing and the rearrangement of property.