President Rauf R. Denktas yesterday (31 August), stated that there was peace in the island for 30 years and the missing thing was reconciliation between the two sides.

Stating that peace was brought to the island with the Turkish Peace Operation in 1974, President Denktas said: "There is peace in the island. We are looking for a reconciliation between the two states in Cyprus." Pointing out that the Greek Cypriots’ understanding of peace was to make the Turkish Cypriots a minority through an artificial agreement, President Denktas said what the Greek Cypriots were looking for was to dispatch the Turkish troops from the island, eliminate Turkey’s rights in Cyprus and through an artificial agreement to spread to all parts of the island and make the Turkish Cypriots a minority.

Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat receiving Turkish Minister of Public Works and Rehabilitation Zeki Ergezen yesterday (31 August), stressed the importance of economic development in the TRNC and that if the economic development could be achieved, there would be an equal partnership in the island both defacto and dejure.

Stating that rehabilitation was an important issue for a country, Prime Minister said the assistance given by Turkey for developing the TRNC’s infrustructure should be taken into consideration.

Prime Minister stated that the current situation in Cyprus would not continue forever and one day there would be a settlement. Prime Minister wished that the settlement to be achieved as soon as possible and this would be beneficial for both the Turkish Cypriot people and the Greek Cypriot people and also for Turkey and Greece. Pointing out that he believed that Turkey’s assistance to the TRNC would continue, Prime Minister said the relations between Turkey and the TRNC had been healthy until today and would continue to be the same.

For his part, Zeki Ergezen stressing that the tenders related to Girne Coastal Road Second Phase and Girne Ring Road were on the agenda, said building of "Demirhan-Girne Junction" road was tendered in 2002 and 29km of this 48km road was completed and the rest of it (19km) would finish by the end of this year.

Stating that the project for 60km "Dortyol-Gecıtkale Girne Junction" was ready, Ergezen said with the addition of "Girne-Alsancak Junction" project, total length of the roads to be built would be 71km and the tenders would be made for these studies, very soon.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul, speaking to NTV, stated that in cooperation with the UN, some studies were being carried out for including the Greek Cypriot side in Customs Union within the framework of the EU, but these should not mean the political recognition of the Greek Cypriot side.

Foreign Minister Gul, pointing out the importance of meeting the expectations of the Turkish Cypriots for their positive steps towards a settlement, said studies were continuing to end the isoltaion of the Turkish Cypriots and these studies would intensify in September.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stated that without a lasting settlement on the island it was not right to reduce the number of Turkish troops in Cyprus. Speaking to Russian Interfaks News Agency, Erdogan said the issue of reducing the number of Turkish troops on the island should be considered within the framework of a settlement. He said in Cyprus, the issues of Security and Guarantees are the main parameters of a comprehensive settlement.

Reminding that besides the Turkish troops there was still 6000 Greek troops in Cyprus and the staff of the Greek Cypriot National Guard was appointed by Greece, Erdogan said this issue was usually forgotten and only the existence of Turkish troops in Cyprus was mentioned.