PRIME MINISTER SOYER: "THE YOUTH IS THE BIGGEST SECURITY IN
THE STRUGGLE FOR A PEACEFUL AND JUST SETTLEMENT"
19 May, which marks the remembrance of Ataturk and
Youth and Sports Day, was yesterday (19 May) celebrated with various
ceremonies throughout the TRNC. The day marks the 86th
anniversary of the day that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of the
Republic of Turkey, landed in Samsun.
In his message issued, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer
pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot youth has used Ataturk's message of
"Peace at home, Peace in the world" as a guide, said they were in the
front line of the struggle given for peace in Cyprus. He said in last
year's referendum although the Turkish Cypriot people had said 'yes' to a
settlement the country had still not achieved the desired settlement.
Continuing, Prime Minister Soyer said: "We are
continuing with our political and legal studies to achieve the desire of
our people. As the youth you are our community's future and the Turkish
Cypriot people will continue its movement to ensure that they take their
place in the world as political equals. You (the youth) are the biggest
security in the struggle for a peace and just settlement".
SERDAR DENKTAS: "ISOLATIONS INCREASINGLY
CONTINUE"
Within the framework of his contacts in Ankara on 17
May, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Serdar
Denktas, said that following last year's referendum, the Turkish Cypriot
side's isolation had still not been lifted and as a result of the property
cases had continued to increase.
Pointing out that the property cases filed by the Greek
Cypriot administration had blocked the lifting of the isolation and
resulted in the issue being dropped from the agenda, Minister Denktas said
in order to overcome this issue a "counteract stance and strategy" would
be identified as soon as possible and that technical delegations from
Turkey and the TRNC would be evaluating the issue.
Underlining that they were against the withdrawal of
Turkish troops from the island before a settlement, he said; "As a gesture
of good will, if Turkey removes a squad of troops from the island before a
settlement this would mean that Turkey accepts the Greek Cypriot claims".
Pointing out that before the UN Secretary-General, Kofi
Annan, starts a new negotiating process he wants to see that the two sides
in Cyprus have the will for this and that the stance displayed by the
Greek Cypriot side was in the direction that it didn't want to engage in a
new negotiation process, Serdar Denktas said it had to be accepted that
the Annan Plan would be included in the new text as a reference.
Continuing, Minister Denktas said he would not extend
his hand forever to the Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos for a
settlement and if the conditions didn't change in 2 years the option of
negotiating would be put on the shelf and a new strategy adopted.
