Turkish EU minister ready to 'reset' to solve Cyprus issue

Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis on Tuesday stated that Nicos Anastasiades, newly elected leader of Greek Cypriot administration, had voted 'yes' to Kofi Annan's Cyprus plan referendum and courageously showed his support for the resolution of the Cyprus issue and said, "We hope his new title will appear to support his previous reconciliatory attitude, rather than casting shadow on it." Bagis told Anadolu Agency that Turkey and the Turkish side had always been the side favoring peace and stability in the Cyprus issue. "No country knows the suffering and pain of the island like we do. Therefore, we should take steps towards peace and unity without the interference of foreign powers," he said. Bagis stated that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus had proved its existence as a state whereas the Greek Cypriot administration, representing one part of the island was faced with bankruptcy and economic crises and paid the price of the political deadlock. "Europe's leading politicians including Merkel and Schroeder have accepted the mistake of allowing the Greek Cypriot administration to become a member of the EU without the resolution of the Cyprus issue. Even on the streets of Brussels people started to question 'how such a mistake was made'. As we have told earlier, we are ready to 'reset' the past to resolve the Cyprus issue. Resolution of the Cyprus issue is not a dream as long as the Greek Cypriots and the international society show their will," the minister said.