ERCAKICA: “The TurkIsh CyprIot sIde Is workIng hard to make Talat-Papadopuolos meetIng effIcIent”
 

The Greek Cypriot press had published last week that the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative to Cyprus, Mr. Micheal Moller and the Greek Cypriot administration’s Chief of Diplomatic Bureau, Mr. Tassos Conis were expecting a telephone call from Mr. Rasit Pertev, Presidential Under-Secretary, regarding the meeting between Mr.Talat and Mr.Papadopoulos.

There are no obligations that the Turkish Cypriot side should meet in terms of this meeting. As is known, the idea that there should be regular meetings between the two leaders has been constantly repeated by our side. We also announced that we welcomed the decision of the Greek Cypriot Leader, Papadopoulos to accept such a meeting after one year time. However, the Greek Cypriot side is trying its best to reduce this meeting to the level of a “public relations campaign”. In addition, following the news published in the Greek Cypriot press, the Greek Cypriot administration’s Foreign Minister Mrs. Markulli has shared the same expectations making these comments an official view of the Greek Cypriot side.

Meanwhile, I want to recall a matter that Mr. Pertev has announced earlier: TRNC Presidential Under-Secretary Rasit Pertev could be reached easily by anyone who wishes to contact with him and he hasn’t gone to holiday yet. His phones are fully operational and all calls are answered.

It is meaningful to us that Mr. Moller hasn’t made a statement on the recent news that he has also been waiting a phone call from Mr. Pertev. If Mr. Moller is in such expectation, Mr. Pertev has the right to know this before the Greek Cypriot press.

For the Leaders meeting to be efficient and effective, all interested parties should try to contribute to this process. The Turkish Cypriot side is very keen on the effectiveness and efficiency of the meetings and calls all the parties to show interest in the outcome of the meeting as much as itself.

The Turkish Cypriot side is working hard to make Talat-Papadopuolos meeting, which is expected to take place in the coming weeks, efficient. We are determined to do our best to have this meeting help us to overcome the stalemate which the Cyprus problem is going through.