STATEMENT BY PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON HASAN ERCAKICA ON 11 DECEMBER 2007

The ongoing election discussions in the Greek Cypriot side are still generating results that will have effects over the quest for the settlement of the Cyprus problem.

In a comprehensive interview published last weekend in Simerini newspaper, the Greek Cypriot leader Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos has openly declared that he will not participate in the search for a settlement based on the UN Comprehensive Settlement Plan, also known as the Annan Plan. Confessing that all their activities over the recent years were, in fact, aimed at eliminating the Annan Plan, Mr. Papadopoulos has also revealed his intentions of wasting all the work that has been done with so much effort.

Contrary to Mr. Papadopoulos’ efforts to that end, the Turkish Cypriot side, like the rest of the world, is of the belief that a settlement that is to be reached for the Cyprus problem “will be based on the considerable body of work and basic agreements over established parameters already worked on over the past decades, from which either side may, indeed should, draw on in the search for a future settlement” as stated in the last report of the UN Secretary-General.

The Annan Plan is the most important part of these works defined as “the considerable body of work” in the last report of the UN Secretary-General.

By saying that “I will not be tired of repeating that there is no ‘last’ chance”, Mr. Papadopoulos, therefore, openly declared that he will not refrain from rendering the initiatives, that are being expected by the whole world after February, futile.

By asking the question of “What else do we have left to pressurize Turkey into, if we hamper the European perspective of Turkey? “, in the said interview, Mr. Papadopoulos has clearly stated the strategy via which he exploits the efforts of Turkey for the EU Membership simply for his own interests.

It has been revealed one more time via this interview that, the Greek Cypriot side is striving to exploit the unjust EU membership, which they achieved after rejecting the Comprehensive Settlement Plan, to impose the kind of settlement of their preference for the Cyprus problem

It is certain that Mr. Papadopoulos’ efforts to eliminate the ground for a settlement, to lead the problem into a deadlock and to exploit Turkey’s EU membership process against Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot people will be proven futile. However, Mr. Papadopoulos’ efforts and the ideas he has put forward to support these efforts in consideration of the election campaign have proved that, it will be impossible even to maintain an effective search for a settlement, let alone reaching a settlement with Mr. Papadopoulos.

The visit paid by the Foreign Minister of Russia, Mr.Sergei Lavrov to South Cyprus has reaffirmed our concern regarding Russia’s position over the Cyprus problem.

Although we have conveyed our regret to Mr. Lavrov as to the fact that he did not pay a visit to President Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat during his visit to Cyprus in 2005, Mr.Lavrov insisted on repeating the same mistake. We are of the view that such action by a country which is a permanent member of the UN Security Council does not coincide with the just stance it has to put forward.

Russia, which we expected to follow a more balanced policy concerning Cyprus after the referenda held in 2004, has unfortunately proved these expectations futile. As President Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat previously stated, Russia continued to act like a “Greek Cypriot militant” in the UN Security Council and went as far as forcing the diplomatic practice by saying that the expressions rejected by the Greek Cypriot side will not be endorsed by the Security Council.

In addition to this, the fact that Mr. Lavrov, in line with the well known position of the Greek Cypriot side, has employed an absolute perception rejecting the “time limitation”, an issue the two sides have to agree on, is not even close to the constructive approach Russia has to employ regarding the Cyprus problem.

It was expected that Mr. Lavrov, who called upon immediate implementation of the 8 July process and the settlement of the Cyprus problem, has supported, indeed should have supported these ideas with his stance and opinions as well. It is evident that this open support by the Foreign Minister of Russia to Mr. Papadopoulos’ policy of which its intransigence has been accepted by the whole world, will not only help reinforce this policy but also maintain the stalemate in Cyprus in the end.

 

7^th TURKIC WORLD ECONOMY, INFORMATICS AND CULTURE FORUM STARTS AT NEAR EAST UNIVERSITY

The 7^th Turkic World Economy, Informatics and Culture Forum started at the Near East University’s Ataturk Culture and Congress Centre yesterday (11 December).

Turkish State Minister Kursat Tuzmen also attended the Forum which was organized by Under-Secretariat of Foreign Trade of Turkish Prime Ministry in cooperation with the Near East University, Turkish Embassy in Lefkosa, Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) and Turkish Ministry of Culture.

Besides the TRNC and Turkey, delegates from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia and Georgia are attending the forum.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the Forum, President Mehmet Ali Talat called on Turkic world to support the efforts aimed at lifting the unjust international isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriots.

Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer for his part stated that in order to progress in the fields of economy, science and democracy, solidarity and cooperation were necessary.

Turkish Minister of State Kursat Tuzmen who also delivered a speech at the Forum drew attention to the strategic importance of Turkey’s and TRNC’s positions in terms of trade and stated that sooner or later the isolation would be lifted, adding that everyone should be prepared for this.

Foreign Minister Turgay Avcý, for his part, referred to the final communiqué of ‘Friendship, Brotherhood and Cooperation Assembly’ which took place in Azerbaijan on 17 November and stated that the decision included in the communiqué to the effect that:” For lifting the isolation on the TRNC, joining diplomatic efforts of all Turkic states, establishing and developing political, cultural and economic relations with Northern Cyprus and increasing support to Turkey for defending the rights of Turkish Cypriots by international organizations”, was very important for Turkish Cypriots.

Stating that the support of Turkic states would encourage Turkish Cypriot people, who have been living under unjust embargoes for many years, to cling to their just struggle, Foreign Minister Avcý said increasing relations with Turkic states especially in the fields of trade, higher education and culture would contribute to the Turkish Cypriot side’s efforts towards the lifting of the isolation.

Following the opening ceremony of the Forum, `Photograph Exhibition of Turkic World Artists` was opened and then the panels started.

 

PRIME MINISTER SOYER RECEIVES KURSAT TUZMEN

Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer yesterday (11 December) received Turkish Minister of State Kursat Tuzmen and his accompanying delegation who came to the TRNC in order to attend the 7^th Turkic World Economy, Informatics and Culture Forum.

Speaking during the meeting, Kursat Tuzmen stressed that the commercial and investment based relations between Turkey and TRNC would continue to increase and expressed pleasure that the per capita income of the TRNC has increased.

Explaining that recently there have been remarkable developments in Turkey’s foreign trade and these had a very important place in the world and of course affected Turkey’s all kinds of relations.

Tuzmen pointing out that the world’s economic axis has shifted from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, said Turkey and the TRNC, which are in the position of two gates opening to the sea from Turkic Republics, would gain strategic importance. Tuzmen added that through this way both the TRNC and Turkey would obtain economic benefits.

Tuzmen said that efforts towards ending the unjust isolation of the TRNC and increasing the volume of trade between the Turkic states and the TRNC would continue.

Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer, for his part, said in a period when the economic development has increased they aimed to find a permanent, acceptable and honorable solution to the Cyprus problem. Soyer added that Turkey’s economic development, its increasing relations with the world and improving relations with the EU would contribute to both the development of the Turkish Cypriot people and the solution of the Cyprus problem as well as to peace in the region and in the world.

Soyer added that the relations between Turkey and the TRNC would continue to strengthen.