The supplementary customs union protocol, which has been extended to include the 10 new EU members as well as the Greek Cypriot administration, has been signed. Turkey's Permanent EU Representative Ambassador Oguz Demiralp signed the protocol.

The signature process was carried out with an exchange of letters between Turkey and the EU Term Presidency U.K and was completed with a declaration sent by Turkey to the U.K stating that the signing of the protocol did not mean Turkey would recognize the Greek Cypriot administration.

The declaration, which was published together with the customs union text highlighting that the Republic of Cyprus that was established in 1960 was not the real partnership state, stressed that the signing, approval and implementation of this protocol did not constitute in any way whatsoever to the recognition of the "Republic of Cyprus" that was mentioned in the protocol.

In Turkey's declaration regarding Cyprus it was stated that Turkey would continue to pursue its stance to the effect that the Greek Cypriot authorities in Cyprus only had the right to exercise its authority, supervision and powers in the southern part of the buffer zone and that it did not represent the Turkish Cypriot people.

Evaluating Turkey's signing of the supplementary protocol as something that was known and expected, President Talat said it was out of the question for Turkey to recognize the "Republic of Cyprus" as a sovereign republic for the whole of the island and this was confirmed.

President Talat added that the signing of the supplementary customs union protocol and Turkey's EU membership process would have a positive effect on the settlement of the Cyprus problem. He said the protocol would also bring with it various crises at different periods.

The President also stressed that as long as the Greek Cypriot side continues to impose embargoes on the Turkish Cypriot side Turkey would not open its air and sea ports to the Greek Cypriot side.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Serdar Denktas pointing out that Turkey had carried out her duties in a manner that was befitting a serious state, said Turkey had taken a historical step in her EU path and it was now the EU's turn to respond with practical answers to lift the embargoes that were imposed on the TRNC. He said this was the EU's historical responsibility.

Continuing, Minister Denktas said until all the embargoes, including all those imposed on the TRNC by the EU were lifted, Turkey would not open its customs and ports for use by the Greek Cypriot administration and requested that all the ports in Cyprus, without any restrictions, be simultaneously opened to the EU and the rest of the world.

Commenting on the signing of the protocol the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul said in the signed protocol Turkey had stated that it would continue its relations with the TRNC. Minister Gul said Turkey would still engage in efforts for a Cyprus settlement and the declaration also included that when a comprehensive and lasting settlement was reached then the issue of recognition and all kinds of relations would be possible.

Minister Gul said:

"In this declaration we stated that we want a settlement, we have engaged in efforts in this direction and will continue to support the UN efforts in this direction. However, we also stressed that the Greek Cypriot administration's laws and authority is only confined to its own boundaries on the island, that the island is in fact divided by a Green Line and that the EU acquis communitaire is only applicable in the Southern part of the island. Additionally, we said that we will protect all our rights vested to us in international agreements and will continue our relations with the TRNC. In spite of all this, we also included in the declaration that when a comprehensive and lasting settlement was reached then the issue of recognition and all kinds of relations would be possible".

Explaining that what needed to be done now was to engage in efforts to reach a Cyprus settlement, Minister Gul said he hoped that the Greek Cypriot side would also show the same reconciliatory approach shown by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side.

As the official guest of Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday (1 August) departed for Ankara.

The Turkish State Minister Abdullatif Sener greeted President Talat and his accompanying delegation, which also included the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Serdar Denktas, at Esenboga Airport in Ankara.