Talat: Tufan Erhürman's Election as President Would Be Very Positive for the Cyprus Issue

Talat expressed that the election of CTP Chairman Tufan Erhürman as president would be a positive development and emphasized that the opening of new border crossings would benefit both communities.

In summary, Talat highlighted that time is running out for the resolution of the Cyprus issue and that a two-state solution is nearly impossible. He argued that Tufan Erhürman, the CTP Chairman, wants to resolve the Cyprus issue and that his election as president would be very positive.

Talat attributed Turkey's return to the two-state solution model to former Greek Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiadis. He emphasized that Anastasiadis told then Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu during the Crans Montana negotiations and the meeting in New York that he was ready to discuss a two-state solution if he won the elections. Talat stated that it was Anastasiadis who brought the two-state solution option back to Turkey.

Talat mentioned that he and former Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias reached agreements on many issues, including territorial matters, but only had a short period of one and a half years to negotiate. He emphasized that Turkish Cypriots should benefit from natural gas before the resolution of the Cyprus issue.

In his interview, Talat also addressed the opening of new border crossings, stating that the opening of the Baf Gate and 'Mia Milia' (Haspolat) points would benefit both communities, while the opening of 'Kokkina' (Erenköy) seemed difficult.