PRESIDENT TALAT: "I'M READY TO MEET WITH PAPADOPOULOS'

Giving an interview to the Greek Cypriot 'Fileleftheros's' Sunday supplement 'Politiki', President Mehmet Ali Talat referring to the talks in Brussels said: "Until a Cyprus settlement was found their aim was to end the embargoes imposed upon the Turkish Cypriot people and their requests to implement direct trade and have direct flights to Ercan Airport was in line with this aim".

During the interview pointing out that the secret negotiations in Brussels were unsuccessful because the Greek Cypriot side was totally opposed to the idea of direct trade, President Talat said the application the direct trade and financial aid regulations were issues that should not require any bargaining with the Greek Cypriot side and constituted a kind of compensation from the EU to the Turkish Cypriots because of a non-settlement. Recalling that he didn't approve not reject the 259 million Euro aid package envisaged by the EU for the Turkish Cypriots, the President said: "The reason why the aid package was not approved is because even if the aid is given the Greek Cypriot side will present obstacles for using this aid, it will only be useful for education, for example in the event of making an application to develop the for of Famagusta, the Greek Cypriot side would object because the money would be used in the public sector".

President Talat stressed that if the direct trade regulation was not approved then it would also be impossible for the direct aid regulation to be approved.

Continuing, the President said the property issue would be factor in settling the Cyprus issue, the two sides would be compensated and this issue would not and should not be a problem in achieving a Cyprus settlement.

Pointing out the Greek Cypriot side should list and present its requests for changes to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the President said he was always ready to meet or have a coffee with the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos without the presence of the UN.

Reminding that in May immediately after his election as the TRNC President he had called upon Papadopoulos via the UN to discuss "practical issues", President Talat said Papadopoulos had verbally replied by saying that he had no intention of discussing these issues with him and that when the time came he would discuss all the aspects of the Cyprus problem and would be ready to negotiate under the UN umbrella.

 

GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION PROHIBITS BULGARIAN CITIZENS OF TURKISH ORIGIN IN TRNC FROM CROSSING OVER TO VOTE IN SOUTH CYPRUS

The Greek Cypriot Administration prohibited Bulgarian citizens of Turkish origin living in the TRNC from crossing over to South Cyprus to cast their votes at the Bulgarian Embassy for the Bulgarian parliamentary elections on 25 June.

On 25 June around 200 Bulgarian citizens had gathered at the Ledra Palace gate to cross over to South Cyprus to vote at the Bulgarian Embassy in South Cyprus and after completing their procedures at the TRNC gate they proceeded to walk to the Greek Cypriot gate but were not permitted to enter.

Speaking on behalf of the Bulgarian citizens, the President of the Association for Refugees from Bulgaria, Osman Tahir said they had previously met with the EU Ambassador Adriaan Van Der Meer through the Bulgarian Ambassador and in accordance with the Green Line Regulation that was approved on 1 May they were informed that Bulgarian citizens could cross over to South Cyprus without a visa.

Pointing out that upon their arrival at the Greek Cypriot check point they were greeted with the mobile striking forces and a large number of Greek Cypriot police, Tahir said the passports of approximately 100 Bulgarian citizens were taken for investigation and after a 3 hour wait the Greek Cypriot police only allowed 3 Bulgarian citizens to cross over to South Cyprus.

After being kept waiting for approximately 4 hours at the Ledra Palace checkpoint and with no explanation being given, the Bulgarian citizens were sent back to the TRNC.