A DELEGATION OF US MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARRIVED IN TRNC

 

            Three American congressmen and a delegation composed of ten congressmen led by Edward Whitfield arrived in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus directly through Ercan airport. The delegation, which initially met with the US Ambassador Michael Klosson, was later received by President Mehmet Ali Talat and President of Parliament Fatma Ekenoglu.

            After their meeting at the presidency, President Mehmet Ali Talat and the head of the delegation Edward Whitfield held a joint press conference.

            Emphasizing the continuation of Turkish Cypriot people’s devotion for a settlement of the Cyprus problem and reunification of the island, President Mehmet Ali Talat underlined that no settlement can be reached in Cyprus without the willingness of both sides involved and pointed out to the continuation of the Cyprus problem as a result of the intransigence by the Greek Cypriot side, despite the Turkish Cypriots’ overwhelming “yes” vote during the referendum last year.

            Expressing his appreciation over the visit by the US delegation, President Talat said that the American congressmen had shown “respectable determination” by resisting all pressures by the Greek Cypriot side to cancel their trip to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and added he hoped that this visit will open the way for other American congressmen to arrive in North Cyprus.

            Stating that they exchanged views over the latest situation regarding the Cyprus issue during their meeting, President Talat underlined the importance of the US delegation’s visit to the island, stressing that “such visits were proof of the international community’s determination and willingness to bring an end to the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people and to integrate North Cyprus into the international system”. President Talat said “only until then the two sides can start meaningful negotiations” and he called on the US congress and the US Administration to continue supporting efforts aimed at finding a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem.

            In his significant reply speech, Congressmen Edward Whitfield pointed out that “although the leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration Tassos Papadopoulos requested from Turkey to sign the Ankara Protocol which is related with free movement of people and goods, he does not appear to support the free movement of people and goods”, Whitfield added that “they arrived directly to North Cyprus as they support the free movement of people and goods throughout all of Cyprus”.

            Stressing that “their visit to North Cyprus was definitely legal, Whitfield explained that they discussed legality of their visit with their own lawyers, the US Foreign Ministry and lawyers of the US National Security Council” and called on Papadopoulos “to remove his objection to the planned financial aid of the EU”.

            Mr. Whitfield said “his delegation is in Cyprus to urge the Greek Cypriot leader Papadopoulos to take steps to reunite Cyprus through a bizonal bicommunal federation; but that he and his friends have understood very well that the Greek Cypriot administration does not approve of their visit to North Cyprus”.

            Reminding the UN Secretary General’s call on the international community to cooperate with the Turkish Cypriot side bilaterally and through international bodies to eliminate the unnecessary restrictions and barriers impeding the development of the Turkish Cypriot side, Mr. Whitfield said this move is consistent with the Security Council resolutions 541 and 550.

            Calling leaders of both sides to leave aside the past, Mr. Whitfield said that Cyprus may have “a bright future and peoples in the island will have considerable gains in case of reunification”. Stating his enthusiasm by being in Cyprus, the congressmen said “the future will be good in this nice state”.

            Replying questions after his speech, Mr. Whitfield, expressing that the US government has an economic development program which worth 30.5 million dollars towards the Turkish Cypriots, said they have also diplomatic contacts in the EU and they gave advises to EU officials for technical assistance about economic issues regarding Northern Cyprus.

            Underlining that the visit paid to North Cyprus may be a symbolic goodwill demonstration which may be very crucial, Mr. Whitfield, expressed that “they have promises about the issue of aid to the Turkish Cypriots and added they want development in all of Cyprus and a united Cyprus will be much more powerful”.

 

GREEK CYPRIOTS ARRESTED TOURISTS WHO VISITED TRNC PORTS WITH THEIR PRIVATE YACHTS   

 

            The Greek Cypriot police have arrested two German tourists who anchored with their private yacht in the Limassol port last Saturday (28.05.05), due to the reason that they had visited TRNC ports, previously.

            According to the Greek Cypriot press, the German tourists came to Girne on Thursday (26.05.05) and to Gazimagusa on Friday (26.05.05) during their tour in the Eastern Mediterranean and stayed overnight in Gazimagusa. It has been expressed in the Greek Cypriot press that the tourists were not aware of the political conditions in Cyprus and that they will be imprisoned until the procedures envisaged by the Greek Cypriot administration are fulfilled.