President Mehmet Ali Talat stated that the EU member countries request for Turkey to recognize the 'Republic of Cyprus' in which the Turkish Cypriots were not included meant they didn't understand the Cyprus problem.

Responding to the Anatolian News agency correspondent's questions, President Talat said: "It's true that it is abnormal for Turkey not to recognize an EU member country, but this abnormality doesn't stem from Turkey but from the fact that a country which hadn't settled its problem was taken into the EU".

The President said: "A divided country and this country's leader who supports the continuation of the division was made an EU member. In other words, a non-European country was taken into the EU. This is the crux of the problem and not Turkey's non-recognition of this country".

The President said: "Turkey wouldn't recognize the 'Republic of Cyprus', because the Turkish Cypriots were not included in this country, in this country's government, and in this state. Whether the 'Republic of Cyprus' is an EU member or not it doesn't change the illegality of this state".

Indicating that, "Requesting Turkey to recognize this country means wanting Turkey to ignore the Turkish Cypriots. Neither Turkey nor the EU has the right to do this", President Talat said:

"If the EU has accepted the 'Republic of Cyprus' has a member it shouldn't have accepted it in its current form, in which the Turkish Cypriots are not included, but in the form of Cyprus' new unification. This should have been the EU's aim.

Whereas, from what we've heard and have been observing we understand that the pressure exerted is aimed at requesting Turkey to recognize this abnormal structure. This kind of abnormal approach is unacceptable".

On being reminded that the recognition of the 'Republic of Cyprus' was indexed to a calendar, the President said if there was to be a calendar this should be for settling the Cyprus problem. The President said Turkey would recognize the new 'Cyprus' merely upon a Cyprus settlement.

He also underlined that what was requested from Turkey during her EU accession process should be related with Turkey and not with the vital rights of the Turkish Cypriots.

Pointing out that Turkish Cypriots were ready to establish a new Cyprus based on equality and a bizonal federation as stated in UN Security Council resolutions and that they proved this in the 24 April 2004 referendum and were still preserving this position, President Talat said: "It's the Turkish Cypriot side that adheres to UN Security Council resolutions. The Greek Cypriot side is the one that runs away from UN Security Council resolutions and it shouldn't be rewarded for this. Instead the Turkish Cypriot side, who adopts policies in line with UN Security Council resolutions, that should be rewarded. And this is the EU's duty".

Indicating that the stance displayed by the EU was very unjust, the President reiterating that the 'Republic of Cyprus', which didn't include the Turkish Cypriots, was illegal, said: "Since the 24 April 2004 referendum it's not even legitimate. It not only said 'no' to a settlement and unification, but it has also monopolized sovereignty. The EU shouldn't tolerate this. We have to constantly stress this and it's out of the question for Turkey to bow to this unjust request".

Also pointing out that it was very wrong to request that Turkey lift the measures it had imposed against the Greek Cypriot side's isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, President Talat said: "In the conditions announced that Turkish Cypriot ports and airports would be closed to the Greek Cypriot side, requesting Turkey to open her ports and airports to the Greek Cypriot side would mean the further consolidation of the Turkish Cypriot peoples isolation".