PRIME MINISTER SOYER: “CONTINUATION OF NON-SOLUTION COULD LEAD TO A CONFLICT SITUATION”

            Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer, in address to the people in Guzelyurt, strongly condemned the dominating attitude recently put forward by the Greek Cypriot side. Soyer pointed out that dominating attitude of the Greek Cypriot side continued to create a nature of conflict.

            Explaining that the Cyprus problem was the main point in the recent petrol crisis, Prime Minister Soyer said if the Cyprus problem was settled on the basis of the Annan plan, today the sides instead of conflicting with each other, would talk about and cooperate on how to jointly benefit from petrol. “Current conflict situation occurred, because the Cyprus problem continues.”

            Pointing out that Cyprus problem was causing distress in the region, Soyer said: “Unless the Cyprus problem is solved, there won’t be a peaceful and stable atmosphere either in Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides or in Turkey and Greece. As long as the non-solution continues, any development regarding Cyprus carries a characteristic of putting all the related parties into a conflict situation.”

            Referring to Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Lillikas’ statements to the effect that they would not share petrol with the Turkish Cypriots, Soyer said this behavior was the indication of the Greek Cypriot side’s dominating attitude.

ERÇAKICA: “THE TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE IS IN FAVOR OF MAKING PROGRESS”

It has been stated by the TRNC Presidency that the Turkish Cypriot side is in favor of making progress in accordance with the 8 July process.

At the weekly press conference held by the Presidential Spokesman Mr. Hasan Ercakica, it has been stated that the 8 July Agreement has come into existence as a result of the good faith employed by the Turkish Cypriot side.

Spokesman Ercakica said that the said good faith employed by the Turkish Cypriot side does not mean that they would tolerate the exploitation of the current circumstances or unfair accusations to be directed towards the Turkish Cypriot side.

Spokesman Ercakica reminded that by signing the 8 July Agreement, the two leaders agreed that, by the end of July 2006, the technical committees would start working on the day-to-day issues affecting the daily lives of people and in parallel with this, the lists of substance would be exchanged for the formation of the working groups.

Underlining that the 8 July Agreement is clear enough Spokesman Ercakica pointed out that meeting of the two leaders to finalize the said lists is among the articles of the said agreement.

Reminding that the technical committees, proposed by the UN on 17 February 2006, constitute the 10-item-list of issues of substance such as health, environment or road security concerning completely the day-to-day life and pose as the basis of the disputes concerning the technical committees, Spokesman Ercakica said that: “In another words, the purpose was to establish a mechanism with the contribution of the both sides to settle the current or probable future daily problems between the two peoples. As the UN proposal and the agreement reached between the two leaders are taken into consideration, along with the purpose of setting up technical committees, it is not that difficult to comprehend what the 8 July process envisages”.

TURKEY SAYS INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS SIGNED BY THE GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRTATION ON THE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES OF CYPRUS WILL NOT BE BINDING TURKEY

Turkey has reminded that the Greek Cypriot Administration is not representing the whole island and that legislation it has recently put into force concerning the exploitation of natural resources off the island of Cyprus and the related international agreements it signed, will not be binding Turkey. USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES

In a written statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry called on the countries and companies considering launching oil and gas exploration in eastern Mediterranean based on invalid licenses being issued by the Greek Cypriot Administration, not to proceed further as this may have a negative effect on the peace efforts on Cyprus.

It calls on them to consider the sensitivity of the issue and the political will of the Turkish Cypriot Side, which is one of the two founders of the Republic of Cyprus.

The Ministry points out that the Greek Cypriot Administration has intensified its efforts since 2003 to sign bilateral agreements with countries in eastern Mediterranean concerning the exploitation of natural resources in the continental shelf and the territorial waters of the island.

`The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Turkey have opposed such attempts from the very beginning` it said, adding that agreements concerning the exploitation of the eastern Mediterranean which is almost a land-locked sea, could and should only be signed with the participation of all the countries sharing the coastline.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry statement goes on to remind that Turkey had, officially, notified Egypt back in 2003 explaining this official stance, right after Cairo signed an  “economic cooperation agreement” with the Greek Cypriot Administration, with the aim of exploring natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean.

“This position of Turkey has officially been told to the United Nations, too” it said.