Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash left for New York Saturday determined to press his vision of a two-state solution to the long-standing division of Cyprus at next week's new round of United Nations-brokered peace talks, the Anatolia news agency reported.
"A confederation between two states is the most realistic solution for Cyprus," Denktash told reporters at Istanbul airport before boarding a scheduled Turkish Airlines flight to New York for the fourth round of indirect talks set to begin on September 12th.
"We are going to the talks with sincere feelings and because we want a conciliation," he added.
In a statement before leaving the Turkish-held northern Cyprus early Friday, the veteran leader called on the Greek Cypriot side to acknowledge his breakaway state and agree to a confederal solution.
"We are going to New York with comprehensive proposals and good will. I hope (the Greek Cypriots) will take benefit from them," Denktash said at Nicosia's Ercan airport, the Turkish Cypriot TAK news agency reported.
In New York, Denktash and Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides will not meet face-to-face, but will conduct indirect talks as in previous rounds.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey occupied the northern third in response to an Athens-engineered coup in Nicosia seeking to unite the island with Greece.
In 1983, Turkish Cypriots declared the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which is recognized only by Turkey. They insist on international recognition as a prerequisite to solving the division of the island – ANKARA (AFP)
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