Reacting to a gas and oil deal signed between the Greek Cypriot administration, Egypt and Lebanon, President Mehmet Ali Talat drew attention to the rights which the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey had over Cyprus.

Pointing out that the Greek Cypriot side could not benefit alone from any petrol found off the coast of Cyprus, nor could it sign any international agreement on the subject without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side, Talat warned: “Any move in that direction will raise tensions in the region”.

Meanwhile, Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister George Lillikas refused Talat’s offer for sharing oil and stated that “it was their absolute sovereign right to exploit resources on land or in the sea within its territory”.

The Greek Cypriot press announced that studies for exploration of oil would start in 15 February and noted that oil and natural gas reserves in the seas surrounding Cyprus amount to 6-8 billion barrels, currently worth around $400 billion.

The Greek Cypriot press also reported that the Greek Cypriot Council of Ministers would hold an extraordinary meeting because of President Talat’s warnings and his statement to the effect that “Turkey would at any cost protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots.”

Following is the full statement of Presidential Spokesman Hasan Erçakýca in his weekly press conference held on Friday (26 January):

“In his reply regarding our statements that Greek Cypriot leader Mr. Papadopoulos insists on avoiding meeting with President Mr. Talat, Greek Cypriot Administration Spokesperson alleged that the 15 November 2006 dated letter sent to both sides by the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Mr. Ýbrahim Gambari does not envisage meetings to be held between Mr.Talat and Mr. Papadopoulos.

Since the said statement by Greek Cypriot Administration Spokesperson has been reflected in the media as “a false declaration”, it has become inevitable to clarify the proposals stated in the said letter, concerning the meeting of Mr. Talat and Mr. Papadopoulos.

The proposals, concerning the stages the two leaders will meet, stated in the 15 November 2007 dated letter sent by the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Mr. Ýbrahim Gambari for the implementation of the 8 July Agreement signed between President Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot Administration Leader Tassos Papadopoulos, is as follows:

A meeting to be held;

Following the announcement of the commencement of the first stage, 7 days after the working groups start working;

After the second stage has been started, provided that it is deemed appropriate and depending on the progress of the work of the working groups, at least once in four weeks to guide the process and review the progress of the work of the committees;

In the first quarter of 2007, for “stock-taking” with the aim of reviewing the progress of the process and deciding whether the comprehensive negotiations will resume or not.

Taking into consideration the statement made by the Greek Cypriot side that they have responded positively to the said letter, it is not that difficult to assume that they do not remain loyal to their commitments.

Furthermore, meeting of the leaders in charge, in settling of the problems is a method that is often resorted to and proven useful for reaching a settlement. Therefore, if a just and lasting settlement is to be reached for the Cyprus Issue or the deadlocks experienced during the negotiation process are to be overcome, the meetings between Mr. Talat and Mr. Papadopoulos should not be avoided. It is evident that Greek Cypriot Leader Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos is striving to render the negotiation process inconclusive by avoiding meeting with President Mr. Talat. Therefore, there is no need to look for any more evidence to prove that.

The great resistance put up by the Turkish Cypriot people against the British Colonial Rule in Cyprus forty-nine years ago and 7 Turkish Cypriot martyrs who fell during this resistance were remembered on Saturday (27 January) with ceremonies in Lefkosa.

27-28 January, which marks the beginning of the communal and organizational resistance of the Turkish Cypriot people and recorded in the Turkish Cypriot history as “The Day of Communal Struggle and Resistance”, was remembered with ceremonies in Lefkosa.