Speaking on the Turkish NTV television channel in Ankara, where he was invited as the official guest of the Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, President Talat stressed that Turkey shouldn't open her air and sea ports to the Greek Cypriot administration.

President Talat stated that if Turkey recognized the Greek Cypriot administration this would be suicide for Turkey.

Asked if any openings would be made by the Turkish Cypriot side, President Talat said: "The Turkish Cypriot side has already made enough openings and is there any other opening which is bigger than wanting a settlement".

Underlining that with the comfort of being an EU member the Greek Cypriot side didn't want to make any concessions for the Turkish Cypriots, President Talat said: "This is very clear. Moreover, the Greek Cypriot side wants to restrict the Turkish Cypriot side's interests".

Stating that the Greek Cypriot side was under serious international pressure and if this pressure was increased by the USA then there was a possibility that the negotiations could resume in Cyprus, the President said if the USA increased its pressure there was a possibility that the negotiations could restart either in December or January. He said that, however, this was only a possibility.

Continuing, President Talat said: "Next May there will be elections in the Greek Cypriot side and negotiations between the EU and Turkey will start this October. This will necessitate and increase pressure to reach a Cyprus settlement. Therefore, negotiations can resume in either December of January, but I'm not claiming that the negotiations will definitely start. This is just a possibility".

Responding to another question, President Talat stated that there was a possibility he would be meeting with the U.K Prime Minister Tony Blair this winter in London.

Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer has reacted to the recent statement made by French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin that unless Turkey recognized the "Republic of Cyprus" it's negotiations with the EU would not start.

Criticizing the EU's ongoing stance regarding Cyprus and the continuation of the isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriot side, Prime Minister Soyer said: "The EU has imprisoned the Turkish Cypriots who are in favour of the EU and it's intending to appoint Papadopoulos as their guardians".

Pointing out that nationalistic and fanatical attitudes within the EU were contrary to the democratic values of the EU, the Prime Minister reminded that if there was to be a settlement in Cyprus, which was also one supported by the EU, then France also had some obligations. He added that if a Cyprus settlement was to be achieved it was vital that the negotiations resumed as soon as possible.

Highlighting that the Turkish Cypriot people would defend a Cyprus settlement and the EU principles until the very end, Prime Minister Soyer stressed that as the side who had voted 'yes' to the UN Secretary-General's settlement plan it would not be possible for the Papadopoulos administration, who had rejected a settlement and was pursuing its non-settlement policy with its mentality of trying to dominate the whole island, to blackmail the Turkish Cypriot people.