Turkey says it will only join Cyprus talks with two-state proposal

Turkey said it will only join talks to resolve decades long Cyprus dispute with a proposal to establish two states on the island, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Thursday, adding previous failed proposals should not be on the agenda.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday the only way to resolve the Cyprus dispute was a two-state solution, and a federation favoured by Greece and Cyprus (south Cyprus) would not be on the agenda of upcoming U.N.-led talks.

We cannot discuss the things we discussed for 40 years for another 40 years, Kalin told an interview with broadcaster TRT Haber, referring to decades of failed talks to unite the island.

Erdogan said the statements by Greece and Greek Cyprus government showed they were disregarding Turkish Cypriot authorities, adding that there was no point discussing proposals that failed before.

There is no longer any solution but a two-state solution. Whether you accept it or not, there is no federation anymore, he told lawmakers.

Only under these conditions can we sit at the table over Cyprus. Otherwise, everyone should go their own way.

In his speech, Erdogan said that former UN chief, the late Kofi Annan told him that he had “tried four times and failed” to achieve a Cyprus solution.