Turkish prime minister on Tuesday said a brand new process is set to begin in Cyprus and expressed hopes that it will succeed in solving the longstanding problem that divides the island.
PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed his ruling AK Party's MPs in their weekly parliamentary group meeting.
He commented on the Cyprus peace talks, which are due to begin Tuesday, to resolve the decades long conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean island.
"I hope neither side will step back from the talks and the Cyprus conflict will finally be solved," Erdogan said.
The prime minister also said the new direction signalled by the resumption of the talks is a promising one.
The talks will be held at the U.N. Buffer Zone in Lefkosa under the mediation of the U.N.
The leaders of both sides announced last week that they agreed on a text that outlines how the talks should move forward. It recommends recognizing the equal status of the two states, while aiming to bring the divided communities closer under a federated government.
The island has been divided into a Greek side in the south and a Turkish side in the north since a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by a Turkish peace mission to aid Turkish Cypriots in 1974.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
