(DIP) TURKISH CYPRIOT FM SAYS "MARAS ISSUE" CAN ONLY BE RESOLVED WITHIN EXTENSIVE TALKS.

LEFKOSA, Sep 16, 2009 (TUR) -- Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun said Wednesday that Maras issue, could only be resolved through negotiations within the scope of the extensive talks, as an element of the Cyprus issue.

Responding with a statement to a recent speech by the Greek Cypriot Leader Dimitris Christophias where he vowed to resolve the Maras issue outside the negotiation table, Ozgurgun said such attempts were in vain.

He said Maras was within the territory of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) founded by the Turkish Cypriots based on the right of self determination, as the only way out when the Greek Cypriots forcefully kicked its political partner Turkish Cypriots out of all state organs of the Republic of Cyprus.

He said a solution based on unacceptable demands of Christophias was impossible adding that the Turkish Cypriot side was committed to a bizonal solution based on the political equality of the two sides, and two founding states, backed by Turkey's Guarantorship.

Ozgurgun accused Christophias of making demands that would sabotage UN efforts and destroy the parameters for a solution saying that these demands would turn Turkish Cypriot peoples into a minority in its own state, even force a great majority of them to migrate.

He said Christophias, while at the same time talking about reunion, attempted to hinder the cultural and economic progress of Turkish Cypriots, with third countries.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)