PRESIDENT TALAT: "GREEK CYPRIOTS HAVE DISPLAYED THEIR
SEPARATIST STANCE WITH PROPERTY CASES "
President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday (25 May) pointing
out that the necessary measures had been taken by the TRNC government
regarding the property cases that were filed by the Greek Cypriots and the
issue was under control, said he believed they would get positive results
and that through these cases the Greek Cypriot side had displayed its
separatist stance and that resuming the Cyprus negotiations depended on
the UN Secretary-General being persuaded by the Greek Cypriot side.
Stressing that the Cyprus issue was a political problem
and even though there were some legal aspects it wasn't a legal problem,
President Talat said, if it wasn't a political problem then the 1977-79
High Level Agreements and the UN Security Council resolutions wouldn't
have envisaged a bizonal, bicommunal federal settlement. He said if the
Cyprus issue solely became a legal problem, it was necessary to try and
resolve it within the framework of the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee and
Alliance but instead a political settlement was sought and although law
could be used in the solution of the problem it wasn't enough for a final
settlement.
Recalling that the Turkish Cypriot side had proved its
desire for peace and expected a positive response from the Greek Cypriot
side for its hand of peace that it had extended to the Greek Cypriot side,
President Talat said a settlement would not only be for the benefit of the
Greek and Turkish Cypriots but also for the region. Pointing out that
resuming the Cyprus negotiations depended on the Greek Cypriot side
persuading the UN Secretary-General, the President said nothing was
requested from the Turkish Cypriot side but, if there was a request this
would be taken up during the UN Secretary-General's Assistant, Kierran
Prendergast's visit to Cyprus.
Meanwhile, announcing that he didn't find the Greek
Cypriot side's views that were conveyed by Tasos Conis to the UN Secretary-General,
Kofi Annan, to be "satisfactory", President Talat reminding that the UN
were still waiting for the Greek Cypriot side to submit its requests of
changes to the Annan Plan, said the Greek Cypriot side's proposals were
not in writing and final.
Stating that if the isolation imposed on the Turkish
Cypriot side was to end the UN Security Council had to approve the UN
Secretary-General's Cyprus Report, President Talat said Russia had to be
persuaded on this issue.
GAMBIA READY TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC
RELATIONS WITH TRNC
Within the framework of his official contacts in Gambia,
the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Serdar Denktas,
yesterday (25 May) met the Gambian State Minister, Yahya Jammeh.
Announcing that his country was ready to establish
diplomatic relations with the TRNC, Minister Jammeh said the realities in
Cyprus were evident and it was the Turkish Cypriot side who wanted a
settlement. He said even though in the 24 April 2004 referendum the Greek
Cypriot side had proved it was responsible for a non-settlement, it still
became an EU member.
Pointing out that there were many opportunities for
foreign businessmen in Gambia, especially in construction, tourism, tuna
fishing and petrol, Minister Jammeh invited Turkish Cypriot businessmen to
explore the investment opportunities in Gambia.
For his part, expressing his pleasure that Gambia was
ready to establish, at the highest levels, diplomatic relations with the
TRNC, Serdar Denktas said, up until today, a Cyprus settlement had not
been found because of the Greek Cypriot side's intransigent stance and the
Turkish Cypriot side expected the Greek Cypriot side to return to the
negotiating table and they wouldn't wait forever. He said in order to
think about the Turkish Cypriot people's welfare and future, the TRNC had
to integrate with the outside world and within this framework the first
official visit to Gambia was important in starting diplomatic contacts
with the African continent Foreign Minister Denktas said; "Our aim is to
establish bilateral relations with the African continents, similar to
those we have established with the Islamic countries".
