PRESIDENT TALAT: IT'S IMPOOSIBLE FOR TURKEY TO RECOGNIZE GREEK CYPRIOT
ADMINISTRATION AS 'REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS'
Speaking at
the ceremony to mark the 31st anniversary of Famagusta's
liberation, President Talat, pointing out that Turkey had signed the
Supplementary Protocol to the Customs Union Agreement to include the Greek
Cypriot side as an obligation, stressed that this did not constitute
Turkey's recognition of the Greek Cypriot side as the 'Republic of
Cyprus'.
President
Talat said: "In reality and in theory it's impossible for Turkey to
recognize the Greek Cypriot administration as the 'Republic of Cyprus.
This is impossible because if this happened it would mean the end of the
Cyprus problem. If Turkey looks at Famagusta's history, which is today
celebrating the anniversary of its liberation, then it will not take such
a step. I'm not saying Turkey can't take this step, it's impossible for
her to take this step. It's out of the question for Turkey to acknowledge
the Greek Cypriot side as being the legitimate government of the whole
island".
Indicating
that Turkey's EU accession negotiations would start on 3 October, the
President said it was not very likely that this process would and could be
stopped.
Pointing out
that the Greek Cypriot side had started a campaign against the lifting of
the isolations on the Turkish Cypriot side because if they were lifted it
would pave the way for making the Turkish Cypriot people much wealthier,
increase their contacts with the world, and result in them not wanting a
settlement, President Talat said: "To want a settlement the Turkish
Cypriots must be oppressed, isolated from the world, and poor. This
shouldn't be the approach of an administration that wants to achieve a
settlement with us under equal conditions. It's our duty to explain this
approach to the whole world".
