PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT ON MISSING PERSONS AND GATES
"WE HAVE GIVEN A POSITIVE RESPONSE TO ANNAN FOR THE STUDIES REGARDING MISSING PERSONS"

Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, yesterday (23 August), made a statement on missing persons and regarding the news about the activities of the Missing Persons Committee, he said the government has given a written and positive response to Annan on this issue and stressed that this issue was being taken seriosly. Prime Minister pointed out that the Missing Persons Committee was being consolidated in a separate place and its studies were being organized.

GREEN LINE REGULATION IN FORCE

PRIME MINISTER TALAT: "POLITICAL PROBLEMS MAY OCCUR, GREEK CYPRIOTS ARE NOT PSYCHOLOGICALLY READY TO BUY GOODS FROM THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS"

The Green Line Regulation regulating the flow of TRNC goods to South Cyprus or from South Cyprus to EU countries has been published in EU Official Gazette and entered into force yesterday (23 August).

Following the implementation of the Regulation, the applications to the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce who was authorized by the EU to give certificate of origin have started.

Prime Minister Memet Ali Talat, pointing out that despite the implementation of the Regulation there could be political problems with the flow of commercial goods to South Cyprus, said the Greek Cypriots who were pretending to push ahead the Green Line regulation in order to delay Free Trade Regulation, indeed they were not psychologically ready to buy Turkish Cypriot goods.

Reminding that the Turkish Cypriot Government carried out the necessary arrangements on the selling of goods to South Cyprus, Prime Minister said from then on, the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce would carry out the necessary acts.

Stating that the related Ministry for this issue was the Ministry of Economy, Prime Minister said the Ministry of Finance was also related to the issue and that they were in coordination with the Chamber of Commerce.

Prime Minister stated that it would be clear in the forthcoming days if the selling of goods to South Cyprus would take place or not and said: "According to the information we have received, the fear of buying Turkish Cypriot goods is widespread among the Greek Cypriot community. In other words, there is an impression in South Cyprus that if they bought Turkish Cypriot goods this would have been a crime. If the Greek Cypriot Administration could overcome this, the Green Line Regulation could be beneficial".

Adding that he believed the Green Line Regulation would be insufficient for the trade in Cyprus, Prime Minister said Europe was sharing the same view with him on this issue.

Prime Minister Talat stating that the Turkish Cypriot side has carried out the necessary studies for the opening of Bostancı border gate and that these studies were conducted to the UN, said it was clearly acknowledged that the Greek Cypriot side who suggested the opening of the Bostancı border gate has made this for image and that they were trying to slip away from this issue.

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side had no problem with opening of Bostancı border gate and that they would start to build the road on the Turkish Cypriot part in the forthcoming days for the opening of the said gate.

FOREIGN MINISTER SERDAR DENKTAS: "WE TAKE NECESSARY MEASURES TO OPEN SECONDARY SCHOOL IN KARPAZ TO EDUCATION"

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Serdar Denktas, stating that the TRNC Government has taken necessary measures to open the Greek Cypriot secondary school in Karpaz to education at the beginning of 2004-2005 academic year, called upon the Greek Cypriot Administration to cooperate with the TRNC.

In his written statement issued yesterday (23 August), Foreign Minister Denktas stated that despite the good will and positive initiatives of the Turkish Cypriot side, the Greek Cypriot side was continuing its misleading and provocative policies.