PRESIDENT TALAT: “ WE ARE TRYING TO REFORMULATE AND  WIN  THE CASE”

President Mehmet Ali Talat speaking to TAK reporter about Cyprus issue and the negotiations in Brussels, on June 18, 2005, stated that they were trying to reformulate and the  lost case.

Stating that the new struggle would last long and be achieved  step by step and through small successes   Talat said: “we cannot expect a big success all of a sudden. A big success can only be reached through a  comprehensive settlement. We are planning small but important steps that will  lead to a comprehensive settlement which will   protect the rights of Turkish Cypriots.”

Pointing out that the new Cyprus policy  would be more active President Talat said “We are always ready for negotiations with only one condition. While sitting and leaving the table if a settlement could not be achieved,  we would not lose anything; we would be equal while sitting.”

 Pointing out that the Turkish side has shown enough  flexibility in Brussels  and now it was  EU’s part to take a step, President Talat said until now the EU has not taken  any steps towards the lifting of the embargoes.  President Talat stressing that during the negotiations in Brussels the Greek  Cypriots made many proposals  such as putting  moratorium  to Greek Cypriot properties in the North, handing over Varosa within a specific time limit, and making a feasibility  study, said  the Turkish side had put fort  that  the financial aid regulation and direct trade regulation  should be  implemented together and  nothing should be  given to Greek Cypriots in exchange of their enforcement.

Stating that during the negotiations, they were determined to protect the  rights of Turkish Cypriot people, which were entrusted to them, President Talat  stressed that they would not be tricked or mistaken  and leave the Turkish Cypriots rights on the table.

 

SERDAR DENKTAS “WE ARE  PREPARING TO INTEGRATE WITH THE WORLD”

The Leader of Democrat Party, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Serdar Denktas stated that there was a prejudice in Cyprus that the world  only turns  around the European Union.  In an interview given to TAK reporter on the Cyprus issue and the EU membership Serdar  Denktas  warned that expectations from the EU would be fruitless. Serdar Denktas said: “the EU will not keep any of its promises, therefore  the Greek Cypriots will not want peace.”

Serdar Denktas in accordance with these realities, the Turkish Cypriots should not be dependent on the EU and should conduct bilateral relations  with other states. Denktas stressed    that the reluctance against the Islamic countries and the African countries in the TRNC should  change. Serdar Denktas  said “If we want to  integrate with the world we should  well understand  how international relations develop   and how  mutual interests have important role on   these relations.

We always have got an important knowledge and  experience including capital to offer to the world. We can integrate the TRNC to the world by using these experiences and by learning from others that we contact with. This is what we try to do; to conduct good relations with all Islamic countries. Relations with EU  also continues… The EU, because of the Greek Cypriot administration, which she accepted as a member due to her wrong policy, will not keep any of its promises. Therefore, the Greek Cypriot administration will not want peace.

Stressing  that there  was  lack of  confidence between  the Turkish Cypriots an the Greek Cypriots Serdar Denktas said, confidence should be built between the two sides.

Serdar Denktas said unless there were confidence between both sides, even the most  excellent  settlement  could not  build  it. He added that if Turkish side  could built confidence through  various policies  and  approaches, even the most negative  agreement could turn into a positive  and working one that could be implemented…