PRESIDENT TALAT: “GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE MISLED STEINMEIER”

President Mehmet Ali Talat pointing out that he spoke on the phone with EU Term President Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier about the opening of the Lokmacý (Ledra Street) border gate yesterday (5 April), said the Greek Cypriot side misled Steinmeier on this issue.

President Talat, who gave a conference on the Cyprus issue at the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) in Ankara and met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday (4 April), returned to the TRNC.

Responding to the questions of the press at Ercan Airport President Talat stated that during his phone conversation with Steinmeier, he mainly focused on the opening of the Lokmacý border gate and added the Greek Cypriot side had misled Steinmeier on the issue.

He stated that the Greek Cypriot administration had provided false information to the German Foreign Minister, claiming that the only problem with the opening of Lokmacý gate was “demilitarization of the area within 100 meters of the border”.

Continuing, President Talat said he explained to Steinmeier that this was an artificial problem created by the Greek Cypriot side, there was not such a problem, the controlling of the area would not be made by soldiers and the soldiers would be at a distance in line with security requirements.

Talat pointing out that he also said to Steinmeier Lokmacý region was an inner city and had walls and streets, therefore, talking about meters was not reasonable because there were some military posts located 10 meters distant from the border on both sides. He added that German Foreign Minister did not know these facts, because of the misinformation given by the Greek Cypriot side.

Stating that Steinmeier had met with the military officials of the UN, Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides, Talat said all the sides would make their military arrangements in the region, but drew attention to the fact the control was made by the police.

President Talat also said that he mentioned about the Direct Trade Regulation and explained to Steinmeier the Turkish Cypriot side’s expectations regarding this issue.

Talat added that German Foreign Minister said that Germany was working hard towards finding a way to implement the EU Direct Trade Regulation.