The Deputy Prime Ministry and Ministry for Foreign Affairs has issued a statement regarding the Greek Cypriot administration's so-called invoices, for health services allegedly received by Turkish Cypriots in the South, forwarded by the UN Peace-Keeping Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP).The statement is as follows;

"Within the framework of the contacts carried out with the UN Peace-Keeping Forces (UNFICYP), during a visit made by UNFICYP officials to our Ministry on 10 May 2005 efforts were made to present to us for forwarding to those Turkish Cypriots in question up to 15 invoices for health services received by Turkish Cypriots in the Makarios Hospital in the Greek Cypriot Administration in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

On examining the 'Makarios Hospital's sealed invoices entitled 'The Republic of Cyprus', it has been identified that 'Occupied Lapethos' and 'Occupied Kyrenia' have been written under the names written on the top left-hand side.

Upon this, it is thought provoking that the Greek Cypriot side who up until now has been boasting to UNFICYP officials that it is providing free health services for the Turkish Cypriots, has resorted to such procedures, because we do not know under what conditions our citizens were treated at the hospitals in the South we cannot accept the so-called invoices, and stress that the terms 'occupied Lapta' and 'occupied Girne' which are devoid of any information regarding postal addresses have been written under the names on the top left hand side constitutes a sufficient reason for us to not to accept the invoices and we returned the invoices to UNFICYP officials to be forwarded to the sender.

In addition to this, we would also like to notify UNFICYP not to be a mediator in assisting the Greek Cypriot side with such requests".

The Deputy Prime Ministry and Ministry for Foreign Affairs yesterday (12 May) sent a diplomatic note to the UN Peace-Keeping Forces in Cyprus.

The full text of the diplomatic note is as follows;

"The Deputy Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus presents its compliments to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus and has the honour to refer to the disturbing developments recently instigated by the Greek Cypriot side.

Turkish Cypriots and foreign citizens residing in North Cyprus are currently being served summons to appear before Greek Cypriot courts in defence of charges brought against them concerning the properties in their possession in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). While Greek Cypriot bailiffs are delivering court summons within our territory, Greek Cypriots and their solicitors are crossing to North Cyprus and harassing the residents of TRNC. Most recently, a number of European arrest warrants have been issued by the Greek Cypriot police against three Turkish Cypriots and a British citizen, again on charges relating to property. It has been reported in the Greek Cypriot press that the Greek Cypriot authorities are preparing to serve the court summons issued in relation to the said warrants. We are further dismayed to note that UNFICYP’s good offices have been abused by the Greek Cypriot authorities in the attempted forwarding of the so-called invoices for health services allegedly received by Turkish Cypriots in the South.

It is obvious that the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus is engaged in a dangerous policy aimed at extending its illegal authority in North Cyprus as well as turning the property issue into a legal battle at the cost of a comprehensive political settlement. Naturally, the Greek Cypriot pretence that it has any control or authority over the TRNC and its citizens cannot be tolerated. We are determined to stand in the way of such efforts. All the necessary measures to stop the harassment of our residents by the Greek Cypriot authorities shall be taken.

We are deeply concerned that the latest episode clearly brought about for political expediency can lead to dangerous disputes among Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot individuals. It is amply clear that the recent actions of the Greek Cypriot administration can help nothing but create tension at the cost of reconciliation in the island. We, therefore, urge the UNFICYP authorities not only to refrain from any action that may be construed as assisting the Greek Cypriot authorities but also to warn them about the serious ramifications of their unacceptable behaviour.

The Deputy Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus the assurances of its highest consideration."

President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday (12 May) met with the EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and the EU Term President Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Nicholas Schmit, whose country is the EU Term President, in order to discuss the Direct Trade and Financial Aid Regulations.

Speaking after the meeting President Talat said his meeting with Rehn and Schmidt had been constructive and he had conveyed the Turkish Cypriot side's concerns on various issues to the EU officials. Pointing out that he had also conveyed his thoughts on the Direct Trade and Financial Aid Regulations, President Talat said during the meeting these two regulations complete each other.

Stating that the property issue was also taken up, the President said they also discussed the arrest warrants that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to get the EU countries to implement.

The President said the Turkish Cypriot side had done everything that was requested by the UN Secretary-General for restarting the Cyprus negotiations as well as clearly put forward its position on the Cyprus issue.

For his part, the EU Term President Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Nicholas Schmit, whose country is the EU Term President, pointing out that he confirmed everything that was said by President Talat, said the purpose of their visit was to investigate settlement opportunities and that the two regulations in particular were extremely important in building new confidence measures on the island.

Indicating that these two regulations were also important in creating new economic opportunities for North Cyprus, Schmit said his meeting with President Talat was very constructive and that he would continue his studies with the EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and that he was optimistic these studies would lead to some activity in the future.

Meanwhile, stating that his meeting with the President was very constructive, Rehn said their main aim was to achieve a permanent settlement on the island. Indicating that important steps had to be taken in order to achieve this aim Rehn said their talks revolved around these two regulations.

Pointing out that both regulations were important and would assist in building political confidence, Rehn said this would also prepare the ground for the negotiations and put an end to the TRNC's economic isolation and assist in reuniting the island.

Meanwhile, in a press conference given regarding their contacts in Cyprus, the EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, referring to the property issue said; "…The current situation is increasing tension on the island and I would find it very difficult to support the use of civil and criminal law on an issue which is predominately a political matter. We have to think of some kind of global package."

Goods belonging to the Greek Cypriot Telecommunications Department (CYTA), which for some unknown reason had arrived at the Port of Famagusta, were sent to the Greek Cypriot side by the TRNC government, but the Greek Cypriot Administration did not allow these goods to be transported to the South.

5 lorries of goods belonging to the CYTA with the address 'Cyprus Nicosia' had arrived at the Port of Famagusta and the lorry drivers unaware of where to deliver the goods upon the directions of TRNC customs officials were sent to the Metehan crossing gate so that they could deliver the goods to the importers in South Cyprus.

After being kept waiting for approximately 3 hours at the Metehan crossing gate, the lorries with the number '31' licence plate with no explanation whatsoever were sent back to the TRNC with a police escort.

In a statement issued regarding the matter, the TRNC Finance Minister Ahmet Uzun said the Greek Cypriot Administration had not accepted and returned the goods because according to them it had arrived on the island through "an illegal port". He said the lorries would stay for one night in the TRNC and tomorrow (14 May) EU officials would take up the matter with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Serdar Denktas.

Stating that the issue would be explained to the EU officials, Uzun said they would tell them that the TRNC acted in accordance with EU norms and the principles of free travel and they would closely watch the developments.