President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday morning (26 July) received a delegation from the Confederation of the Greek Cypriot Workers Union, DISK and the Confederation of the Civil Servant Workers Union, KESK and asked by a journalist how he interpreted the remark made by the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos that "if necessary I will say no again". President Talat stating that Papadopoulos had demonstrated that he was not interested in a Cyprus settlement said Papadopoulos' remarks helped the world, the UN and the EU to see the realities.

President Talat stressing that they would never give up their struggle and hope for peace said if their hand extended for peace was held the Cyprus issue would be settled and that a settlement was for their common interest.

President Talat also evaluated the recent attitude of the Greek Cypriot workers unions, which were always in favour of peace as disappointing.

Pointing out that very interesting days have been experienced since the referendum, President Talat said it was important that the attitude in South Cyprus shift towards peace, settlement and Cyprus' unification. He said it was the Greek Cypriots' duty to develop this understanding. President Talat added that the conflict in the island following the Greek Cypriot side's one-sided EU membership had gained a new dimension.

The Azerbaijani delegation headed by the Under-Secretary of the Ministry for Economy and Development Alihüseyin Şaliyev and including Azerbaijan state officials and businessmen who came to the island last week to explore investment opportunities, yesterday visited President Mehmet Ali Talat and Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer.

President Mehmet Ali Talat speaking during the meeting stressed that the Turkish Cypriot people were modern and peaceful, but had been isolated from the world for many years.

Pointing out that the Azerbaijani delegation has been the initiator in ending this isolation, President Talat said in the future while this period of Cyprus' history would be narrated the Azerbaijani businessmen's visit would be mentioned as an important step.

Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer stating that direct flights from Baku to the TRNC was not a political step but an economic right, said it was the responsibility of both the Turkish Cypriot and Azerbaijani people as well as other people to implement this right.

Explaining that the Turkish Cypriot people desired to be part of a settlement as a political equal, Soyer said in order to achieve this political aim, the economy should also develop.

President Mehmet Ali Talat referring to Trabzon sports arrival on the island from Larnaca for a football match with the Greek Cypriot football team 'Anarthosis' within the framework of the Champions League second qualifying round-first leg, said this shame belonged to the Greek Cypriot administration and the world was an indication that an EU member was not in fact acting like a European.

President Talat referring to the Greek Cypriot authorities refusal to allow reporters of Turkish origin posted to the TRNC to cross over to South, said this event should be evaluated by the world in terms of the freedom of movement and press. Talat said: "It should be the Greek Cypriot administration who should be ashamed of this and those who have turned a blind eye to this."

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Serdar Denktas stated that preventing Trabzon sports from arriving in South Cyprus from the TRNC for a match with the Greek Cypriot 'Anarthosis' football team within the framework of the Champions League second qualifying round-first leg demonstrated the best example of the embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot side.

Minister Denktas said after the match the return of Trabzon sport to Turkey via Ercan State Airport in the TRNC would be the most meaningful message that Papadopoulos could give at this stage.

In a written statement issued, Minister Denktas said although it was the TRNC's desire for Trabzon sport to cross over to the Greek Cypriot administration from the TRNC and aware of the problems that this would lead to they respected Trabzon sports decision to fly into South Cyprus via Athens.

Pointing out that although this match presented a good opportunity to build confidence between the two peoples the Greek Cypriot administration was even making getting to the match a problem and thus many TRNC Trabzon sport supporters were unable to go to the match, Serdar Denktas said the Papadopoulos administration had rejected the request made via the UN for TRNC citizens who were originally from the Black Sea region in Turkey to go and watch the match.