TRNC Public Information Office

PRESIDENT TALAT: "TRNC IS MORE LEGITIMATE THAN GREEK CYPRIOT STATE"

Leader of the freedom struggle of the Turkish Cypriot people Dr. Fazıl Küçük was remembered in the 23^rd anniversary of his death with a ceremony at his monument at Anıt Tepe yesterday (15 January).

The ceremony was attended by President Mehmet Ali Talat, Speaker of TRNC Parliament Fatma Ekenoğlu, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer, First President Rauf R. Denktaş, Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa, Türkekul Kurttekin, Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Commander Lieutenant General Hayri Kıvrıkoğlu, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcı and other military and civil officials.

Speaking during the ceremony, President Mehmet Ali Talat reiterating that the TRNC was more legitimate than the Greek Cypriot state, said: "Efforts to enter into legitimacy discussions and ‘to increase the status of the TRNC’ as the Greek Cypriot side allege, are out of question."

Stating that they were remembering Dr. Küçük with respect, President Talat said the struggle guided by Dr Fazıl Küçük had been the enlightenment of the Turkish Cypriot people. President Talat reminding the conditions in Dr. Küçük’s struggle, explained that it was a difficult duty to bring the Cyprus problem, which was excluded from Turkey’s agenda with Lausanne Treaty, back to Turkey’s agenda and to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people.

President Talat said: "Our struggle today, is like walking on a minefield", and added that on this minefield, there was a process affected by many international powers and states involved.

Pointing out that while the UN efforts towards the solution of the Cyprus problem were continuing in this process, at the same time the efforts to get the EU involved in the issue were also continuing, President Talat said: "Under these conditions, we as the TRNC are struggling to strengthen and improve our existence and structure."

Explaining that the TRNC was established with Turkish Cypriot people’s will and continued to exist as a democratic and secular state with this will, Talat said on the other hand, South Cyprus was alleging that it represented the whole of Cyprus and it was doing this within the EU as well.

ERÇAKICA: "OBSTACLE BEFORE THE OPENING OF LOKMACI GATE IS THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE’S INTRANSIGENT STANCE AND THE WALL OF SHAME"

Following is the full statement of Presidential Spokesman Hasan Erçakıca in his weekly press conference held yesterday (15 January):

"Although the Turkish Cypriot side has taken concrete steps in good faith for reciprocal opening of the Lokmacı Barricade in the last two years, it has always collided into the intransigent position of the Greek Cypriot side and the wall of shame in their own area.

After the removal of the footbridge at the Lokmacı Barricade on 9 January 2007, the only obstacle left before the commencement of the crossings is the wall in the Greek Cypriot side. There is no obstacle in the Turkish Cypriot side for the reorganization of the barricade in the Lokmacı area as a gate. It is also clear that there is no security issue in the Turkish Cypriot side that will obstruct the crossings.

The Greek Cypriot side is trying to alter the agenda and hinder the opening of the gate by creating various problems and excuses. The recent statements made in the Greek Cypriot side should be considered within this scope.

The allegations by the spokesmen of the Greek Cypriot side that the obstacle before the opening of the Lokmacı Gate is the lack of good faith of the Turkish Cypriot side is the indication of the deadlock and the tragicomical state of the Greek Cypriot politics. Since the Turkish Cypriot side has proved its good faith many times, it is the Greek Cypriot side who has to prove theirs. The wall in the Greek Cypriot side, which is the obstacle before the opening of the Lokmacı Gate, is standing as “a monument of shame" before the eyes of the whole world."