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PRIME MINISTER TALAT: "EU AND USA AGAINST PROGRESS IN CYPRUS"
Prime Minister
Talat, referring to his interview with the Greek Cypriot daily "Fileleftheros",
said that, unfortunately, from that short interview the Turkish press had
made an incorrect evaluation. The Prime Minister said news articles had
appeared in the Turkish press to the effect that he expected a new proposal
or new negotiation, whereas the reality was very simple. Pointing out that,
the Greek Cypriot reporter had asked him what would happen now, would there
be no settlement because of the Greek Cypriot side's rejection of the Annan
Plan, the Prime Minister Talat said he had replied by saying that
Papadopoulos should first decide what he wants as well as decide on the
changes he wants to make to the Annan Plan. He said: "Therefore, it is their
(Greek Cypriot side) responsibility and if they give us a proposal we'll
negotiate it. First, let's see their proposal before negotiating and then
we'll give them our proposals".
Upon being
reminded that he had previously stated he wouldn't negotiate the Annan Plan,
the Prime Minister said:
"The conditions
prevailing at that time necessitated this. It wouldn't have been correct to
negotiate the Plan immediately after 65% of the Turkish Cypriot people had
voted 'yes'. If the Annan Plan or another plan comes onto the agenda and
there are changes, then if necessary we'll negotiate it and have another
referendum".
Referring to
comments to the effect that it was Turkey who didn't want progress on the
Cyprus issue, the Prime Minister said, it wasn't Turkey, but it was America
and the EU who didn't want progress on the Cyprus issue.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SHARES TURKISH CYPRIOTS DETERMINATION
The Dutch
Social Democrat MEP and Rapporteur for the Foreign Relations s Committee,
Rechtild Rothe, in an interview given to the Turkish Cypriot daily "Kibris"
in Strasbourg pointing out that the European Parliament was giving signals
for the improvement of the Turkish Cypriots' economic development as well as
assisting in a Cyprus settlement, said the European Parliament had no
responsibilities on the Annan Plan. Rothe said the European Parliament could
assist with the financial aid package, direct trade, ending the isolation
and bringing the Turkish Cypriot people closer to the European Union.
Rothe stated
that according to the financial aid package, up until the end of 2004,
approximately 6 million Euro in the first stage, 110,360,000 million Euro in
the second stage and 135,250,000 Euro in the third stage would be given to
the Turkish Cypriots.
Continuing,
Rothe said:
"The financial
aid package and direct trade concerns the European Council and the Foreign
Relations Commission and in order to settle this issue it's sufficient to
only ask the council and commission. In my report, I proposed that the
Direct Trade Regulation be implemented within 3 months. The Parliament
cannot approve the Direct Trade Regulation on its own. The most important
point is giving a clear message on direct trade on 15 November. The council
will make the final decision and this will be on 22 November. This decision
will be important for the Turkish Cypriots in ending the isolation. I hope
we'll (European Parliament) give net messages for the Turkish Cypriots on 15
November".
Explaining that
the European Parliament respected the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, Rothe
said the majority of Turkish Cypriots had approved the Annan Plan and he
hoped that new opportunities would emerge regarding the Annan Plan. He said
the European Parliament had responsibilities towards the EU and the Turkish
Cypriots were disappointed that a settlement couldn't be found on the basis
of the Annan Plan. Rothe also said the EU would make the necessary
assistance for the Turkish Cypriot people.
Pointing out
that there was a problem with the Direct Trade Regulation, Rothe said this
stemmed from the Greek Cypriot Administration.
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GREEK CYPRIOT AUTHOR
EXPLAINS GREEK CYPRIOT ATROCITIES
YAGMURALAN VILLAGERS WANT THEIR VILLAGE BACK
TRNC President Rauf R. Denktaş’
interview given to Inter-fax News Agent’s Reduction Editor Vlidamir Kulikov
, September 2004
TURKISH CYPRIOTS SAY "LIFT EMBARGO NOW
AND
HELP US TO COMPENSATE
PROPERTY-OWNERS ON BOTH SIDES"
EXCERPTS FROM STATEMENTS AND DECISIONS/RESOLUTIONS ABOUT THE REFERANDA HELD
IN CYPRUS ON 24 APRIL 2004
REFERENDUM
RESULTS IN THE FOREIGN PRESS
NEGOTIATION
PROCESS
SERIES
OF ARTICLES SHOWING THE PRESENT CONDITION OF TURKISH CYPRIOT
VILLAGES IN SOUTH CYPRUS
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