In a written statement issued yesterday (26 April), the Presidency drew attention to the fact that the current deadlock on the Cyprus problem was result of the rejection of the internationally backed Annan plan by the Greek Cypriot side. The statement added that Mr. Hoon by ignoring this reality for the sake of smoothing relations between the Greek Cypriot administration and Britain would have a negative impact on efforts towards finding a comprehensive, just and immediate solution to the Cyprus problem.

In its statement the TRNC Presidency stating that it was improper and unacceptable to try to establish a link between Turkey’s EU membership and the solution of the Cyprus problem, said:

“Britain by stating that it had spent the most intensive effort for making the Greek Cypriot side, which is responsible for the continuation of the non-solution in the island, an EU member and by trying to establish such a link between the solution of the Cyprus problem and EU membership of Turkey, which has been spending intensive efforts for a solution, is neither legitimate nor ethic”.

The statement said Britain as one of the guarantor powers of the Cyprus Republic that was established in 1960 and as a country which has been closely involved in the Cyprus problem from the very beginning had a capacity to play a positive role in finding a settlement on the island but added that the stance adopted by Mr. Hoon during his visit did not suit the role Britain was expected to play.

A member of the US House of Representatives Ed. Whitfield presented a written statement to the US Congress concerning the Cyprus problem and the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people.

In his statement, which he presented within the framework of the third anniversary of the 2004 referendum in Cyprus, Whitfield stressed that the lifting of the isolation on the Turkish Cypriot people will be the most important step towards finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

According to the information obtained from the TRNC Washington Representative Office, the member of the US House of Representatives Ed. Whitfield reminded in his statement that despite the fact that it was the Turkish Cypriot people which voted in favour of the Annan Plan, the Greek Cypriot side which rejected the plan had become a member of the European Union.

Pointing out that the Annan Plan was the only peace plan put to the public’s vote, the US congressman said that the plan was fair for the two sides and was backed by both US and the EU.

Referring to the report submitted by the UN Secretary-General to the UN Security Council following the referendum which put forward the need for ending the Turkish Cypriots’ isolation, Whitfield said the EU Council, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) shared the same view on the lifting of the isolation.

Complaining that although three years have passed since the referendum, the promises given to the Turkish Cypriot people by the international community towards ending their isolation had not yet been honoured, Mr. Whitfield said however the Turkish Cypriot side’s determination towards finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem had not deteriorated.

Stating that the Turkish Cypriots acted very flexible and mature and proved their determination towards a solution in Cyprus in the referendum, Whitfield said:

“Responding to the constructive approach of the Turkish Cypriot people is not only a message that should be conveyed to all the parties, but is necessary for administering justice.”

Meanwhile, TRNC Deputy Prime Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a written statement issued yesterday (26 April) on the issue stated that:

“A member of the United States House of Representatives and Co-President of the American-Turkish Friendship Group Ed. Whitfield in a statement, which he presented to the US Congress within the framework of the third anniversary of submission of the Annan plan to the simultaneous referendums in Cyprus, made a strong call for ending the inhumane isolation imposed upon the Turkish Cypriot people. Furthermore, the statement of Congressman Whitfield in which he underlined that the lifting of the economic, social and political isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people would be the most important step towards the resumption of the negotiations, is a realistic approach that should be taken not into consideration not only be the US officials but also by the international community.