FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI IN BUSINESS NEWS MAGAZINE

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý speaking to Business News Magazine evaluated the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issue. Foreign Minister Avcý pointing out that the Turkish Cypriots were not given the opportunity to express their views on issues such as the implementation of the Direct Trade Regulation, said: “They do not even ask our opinions. This is the real isolation”.

            Drawing attention to the lobbying activities of the Greek Cypriots, Avcý requested the decision taken on 26 April 2004 to end the isolation to be implemented and the promises given in this respect to be kept. Avcý stressed that the Turkish Cypriot side had always displayed its good intention and the Greek Cypriot side should be encouraged towards acting in the same manner.

            Foreign Minister Avcý pointing to the fact that the Cyprus problem remained hot even in the coldest days of winter said that as long as the just, lasting and equal solution to the Cyprus problem was not found, the Cyprus issue would continue to occupy a place on the world’s agenda.

Explaining that the current deadlock on the Cyprus problem was the result of the Greek Cypriot administration’s unilateral and unjust membership into the European Union following its rejection of the Annan plan, Avcý said the Greek Cypriot administration was at every opportunity doing its utmost to pressure and drive the Turkish Cypriot people into a corner.

Reminding that the EU Foreign Ministers had approved a decision on the Direct Trade Regulation to North Cyprus, Foreign Minister Avcý said that most important thing for the Turkish Cypriot side was the context of the regulation. Avcý underlined that it was totally out of question for the Turkish Cypriot side to accept direct trade with the EU to be conducted over Greek Cypriot ports.

Referring to the recent oil crisis, Avcý said that by creating this oil crises Greek Cypriot side primarily aimed to upset Turkey’s relations with other countries in the region and secondly to show itself as the sole legitimate government having the right to speak on the territorial waters of Cyprus.

            Avcý stating that in face of these initiatives of the Greek Cypriot side, necessary political measures had been taken, said if the Greek Cypriot side went further on this issue, different measures could come on to the agenda.

            Expressing the hope that the direct trade regulation would be put into force during Germany’s EU Term Presidency, Foreign Minister Avcý said that as the next step they expected the international isolation imposed on sports, culture and education to be removed as well as the direct flights to start.

Continuing, Foreign Minister Avcý said:

“While these expectations are continuing, we should improve our institutions and strengthen our infrastructure. We will give struggle to improve our economy. New investments in the TRNC are on the agenda. New economic package will soon be signed between the TRNC and Turkey.”

Pointing out that he had great expectations regarding the tourism sector, Avcý said: “We are working especially for the congress tourism and we are aiming at primarily the European countries as well as Scandinavian and Arabic countries.

Avcý explaining that they placed high importance in the marketing process, said: “If we cannot explain ourselves, no one can recognize our existence. This cannot be done by staying in Nicosia. We should continuously be in close contacts with other countries. We are explaining the injustice made against the Turkish Cypriots in every country we visit. We also explain the Greek Cypriots’ stance.”

GERMAN NEWSPAPER ADVERTIZED THE TRNC IN ITS TRAVEL SUPPLEMENT

            German ‘Frankfurter Rundschau’ newspaper, in its travel supplement published on 3 February advertised the TRNC.

            In the article entitled “Forgotten Beauty in Mediterranean”, it was pointed out that “North Cyprus started to attract more tourists with the beauty of its Five Finger Mountains and pine tree forests”.