PRESIDENT TALAT: "POLITICAL EQUALITY IS OUR BASIC REQUIREMENT"

President Mehmet Ali Talat stated that the Washington trip was an applause for the will displayed by the Turkish Cypriots for a settlement and symbolized the acknowledgment of a change in leadership in North Cyprus and was thus a warning to all those who opposed a settlement on the island.

Pointing out that the real reason behind the Greek Cypriot side's rejection of the Annan Plan was because they didn't want to share power with the Turkish Cypriots, President Talat said political equality was the Turkish Cypriot side's basic requirement.

Participating live on CNN Turk, President Talat referring to his forthcoming Washington trip said it would have many benefits and the visit would ensure the U.S.A's contribution in lifting the Turkish Cypriot side's isolation. He said the trip was also a warning to the Greek Cypriot side and its non-settlement supporters.

President Talat said that within the framework of his contacts in Washington he would also be meeting with the U.N Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 31 October.

Asked whether or not a new plan was on the Secretary-General's agenda, President Talat stressed that the negotiations should start on the basis of the Annan Plan and steps should be taken that would satisfy Annan.

Highlighting that sometimes the Greek Cypriot side would say the 'Annan Plan is a basis' and at other times it would say the complete opposite, the President said the views of the Greek Cypriot administration's Spokesman and the Greek Cypriot leader on this issue contradicted one another. He said this was a tactic aimed at trying to kill off the Annan Plan, which the Greek Cypriot administration didn't have the courage to openly say.

Asked what the red lines would be if changes were made to the Annan Plan, the President, pointing out that the Turkish military presence on the island and the Treaty of Guarantee was based on an international ground, said for these issues to be amended all the sides had to negotiate. Adding that these were additional parts of the Cyprus problem and that the Turkish Cypriot side would not give up on political equality, the President said the main problem was how the administration would be.

 

SERDAR DENKTAS IN BAVARIA

Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Serdar Denktas in order to strengthen cultural and economic relations between the TRNC and Germany, as well as to have contacts with German officials on the Cyprus problem, especially following the developments that took place after the start of Turkey's E.U accession negotiations, went to the capital of Bavaria, Munih.

Pointing out that Turgay Hilmi, the TRNC's Cultural Attache to Bavaria, had made significant contributions to developing cultural relations between the TRNC and Germany, Serdar Denktas said he was in Munih to explore ways of establishing economic relations between the two countries.