Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer speaking to Greek Cypriot daily Alithia expressed his belief that the majority of the Turkish Cypriot people would vote in favor of an improved solution plan on the Cyprus problem.

The Prime Minister said: “I can guarantee that a new improved solution plan, which will include the Annan plan and which will be better explained to the people will gain the approval of 85% of the Turkish Cypriot people.”

Referring to the 8 July process, Soyer highlighted the importance of holding talks on the essence of the Cyprus problem rather than holding ‘preparatory talks’ as proposed by the Greek Cypriot administration.

Explaining that the establishment of technical committees, working groups and which subjects to be included in the agenda were among the issues discussed within the 8 July process, Prime Minister Soyer noted that the proposal to establish the Technical Committees and Working groups simultaneously was accepted by the Turkish Cypriot side and reminded that the Greek Cypriot side, at the last minute had proposed the property issue to be taken up by the Technical Committees. Soyer explained that the Turkish Cypriot side had demanded the property issue be taken up at the working groups because the property dispute was one of the core components of the Cyprus issue. Prime Minister added that the issues to be discussed in Technical Committees were the ones affecting people’s daily lives such as money laundering, illegal immigration and providing phone communication between the two sides.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý called upon Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Yorgos Lillikas to meet with him in a third country.

In a statement to the Anatolian News Agency (AA), Foreign Minister Avcý invited Lillikas to meet in a country of his choice and to discuss the Cyprus issue.

Avcý said:

“We continuously make this call to the Greek Cypriot side: ‘We are ready to discuss every issue at the negotiating table with you. As Turkish Cypriots and the government we are ready to negotiate towards finding a bi-zonal solution to the Cyprus problem, on the basis of the political equality of the two sides, under Turkey’s guarantee and the UN umbrella.’ Now I call upon Lillikas to meet in a third country, preferably a European country, to have a dinner, drink coffee and discuss the Cyprus issue. As remembered we were going to meet in Helsinki during Finland’s EU rotating presidency, but Lillikas withdrew from the table”.

Noting that from time to time he was asked; “why don’t you fly from Larnaka airport?”, Foreign Minister Avcý said: “The day Papadopoulos flies from Ercan airport, I will fly from Larnaka airport”.

Avcý explained that the TRNC Foreign Ministry was undergoing a restructuring process which included new openings with member countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in the fields of trade, finance, transportation and commerce. Avcý also pointed out that efforts to launch ferry services between the Famagusta port and Laskiye port in Syria were continuing.

Pointing out that they opened a representative office in Qatar, Avcý said the representative would be leaving for Qatar in couple of days and added that they would also open representative offices in Kuwait and Oman, soon.

Avcý said that these new representative offices that were being opened at important gulf countries will create new opportunities for the TRNC in terms of trade.

Stating that from the moment he took up his duty in the TRNC Foreign Ministry he pursued a proactive policy, Avcý said: “Opening to the world is finding an echo and bringing results. It helps us to make the voice of the Turkish Cypriot people heard in the world”. Avcý added that however people should not expect immediate results in foreign politics.

Complaining that the Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos was working hard to prevent the development of the Turkish Cypriot people, Avcý said that the Greek Cypriot leader was doing this because he knows that economic development would lead to other openings for the Turkish Cypriot people.

Pointing out that the Greek Cypriot administration did not have the goal of achieving a political settlement on the island, the Foreign Minister reiterated the Turkish Cypriot side’s readiness to work towards finding a just and bi-zonal solution to the Cyprus problem, which would be based on the guarantee of Turkey and the political equality of the two sides.

Avcý said the Turkish Cypriot people expected the European Union to honor the promises it made before and after April 2004 referendum, reminding that on 26 April 2004 the EU Council had decided to remove the Turkish Cypriots’ isolation.

Pointing out that the Direct Trade Regulation was under the threat of the Greek Cypriots, Avcý said: “The EU is now being tested on whether it would be able to implement its decisions or fall a prey to the temptations of the Greek Cypriot administration”.