Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, met with the President of the EU Commission, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, on February 14 in Brussles. Prime Minister Talat said in addition to his meeting with the EU Commission President he also had the opportunity to meet with the Director General of EU Enlargement, Pierre Mirel and the Head of the Task Force Turkish Cypriot Community, Leopold Maurer. Prime Minister Talat stated that the EU Commission and the Commission's other institutions were behind their commitment to the Turkish Cypriots and determined to approve the Financial Aid and Direct Trade Regulations and that thet were seeking to find a reconciliation method.

Prime Minister Talat reminding that the EU Council had appointed the EU Commission with the responsibility of ending the Turkish Cypriot people's isolation, said studies were being carried within this framework, an amendment had been made to one of the important regulations and two new regulations were being prepared. Explaining that the Green Line Regulation (after being agreed upon with the Greek Cypriot Administration) had recently been approved by a special committee in Brussels, the Prime Minister said the Financial Aid and Direct Trade Regulations, which had been prepared last July, had still not been approved.

Drawing attention to the fact that without direct trade it wouldn't be possible to say that the isolation imposed upon the Turkish Cypriot side had ended, Prime Minister Talat said, this was why direct trade was of primary importance for the Turkish Cypriot side. He said this was stressed during his contacts in Brussels and was received with understanding.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued the EU Commission President, Barroso's Spokesman for EU Enlargement, K. Nagy, pointing out that the EU Commission wanted to approve the Financial Aid Regulation and Direct Trade Regulation as a whole, said the EU's aim was to improve the welfare of the Turkish Cypriot people and secure their integration with the EU.

The TRNC Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Serdar Denktas, yesterday (February 15) started to meet the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and the UN mission chiefs stationed in Lefkosa within the framework of starting a new initiative against Papadopoulos' intransigent stance.

Within this framework, Minister Denktas, yesterday (February 15) met with the Undersecretary of the US Embassy, Ned Nolan and the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative to Cyprus and Head of UNFICYP, Zbigniew Wlosowicz and today (February 16), will meet with the French Ambassador, Hadelin de La Tour Du Pin.

Speaking to the Cyprus Turkish News Agency (TAK) after yesterday's meetings, Minister Denktas, pointing out that an end should be put to Papadopoulos' irresponsible and selfish attitude, said this was the aim of his meetings. He said: "This cannot continue, Someone has to put a 'stop' to this".

Explaining that he had outlined his view on this issue to both the UN Special Representative, Zbigniew Wlosowicz, and the Undersecretary of the US Embassy, Ned Nolan, Minister Denktas said Papadopoulos' rejection of the UN Secretary-General's call (to list his objections to the Annan Plan) was unacceptable and an indication that he still continues to pursue his non-settlement stance. Pointing out that if the Greek Cypriot side continues to follow its intransigent stance, then the status of the Turkish Cypriot side, which proved its determination and sincerity in reaching a Cyprus settlement, should be clarified, said the UN and USA had great responsibilities on this issue.