Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý, who is continuing his contacts in the US, attended the 26^th Annual Conference of The American Turkish-Turkish American Business Council.

            On the first day of the Conference, which started on the 26^th of March at Washington Mandarin Hotel, the Chairman of the Turkish American Business Council James Holmes made the opening speech and gave information about the conference. Chairman of the Turkish Union of Chamber and Stock Exchanges Rifat Hisarciklioglu also delivered an opening speech. Following the opening of the conference, “Defense and Security Relations” session started.

            Foreign Minister Avcý attended this session where the Vice-President of the Turkish General Staff Full General Ergin Saygun and the Vice-President of the US General Staff Admiral Ed. Giambastiani delivered speeches.

            Foreign Minister Avcý within the framework of his contacts in the US, visited the Turkish Embassy in Washington and met with the representatives of the Maryland Turkish Association headed by Turkish Cypriot Ozcan Mustafa and the American Ataturk Association headed by Turkish Cypriot Timur Edip.

            Avcý speaking during the meetings stated that the lobbying activities should be strengthened in order to explain the realities to the world and requested support from the Turkish associations in the US and if the lobbying activities were not strengthened, the world would believe in things explained by others.

            Foreign Minister Avcý also attended the dinner hosted by the Association of American Friends of Turkey (AFOT) for the 25^th anniversary of its establishment.

Presidential Spokesman Mr. Hasan Ercakica said that they will not allow the Greek Cypriot side to exploit the 8 July process as a means to further postpone the settlement of the Cyprus Issue.

At the weekly press conference held by the Presidential Spokesman Mr. Hasan Ercakica, it has been stated that the Greek Cypriot side will not be permitted to exert pressure neither on Turkish Cypriot side nor Turkey via their EU membership.

Having stressed that all the efforts spent by the Turkish Cypriot side are, as envisaged by the 8 July Agreement, directed towards reaching a comprehensive settlement for the Cyprus Issue at the earliest possible date, Spokesman Ercakica said that the 8 July process is still being evaluated.

Expressing that various meetings are being held within the framework of evaluating the said process, Spokesman Ercakica stated that “The primary objective of these evaluation meetings will be to avert the exploitation of the 8 July process in a way that will delay the settlement of the Cyprus Issue and hinder the promotion of the relations between the Turkish Cypriots and the EU”.

Presidential Spokesman Mr. Hasan Ercakica has stressed that the Greek Cypriot side has no right to develop or implement any policy over the Turkish Cypriots.

While assessing the news item regarding the statement of the Greek Cypriot side that the announcement of the package including new measures for the economic development of the Turkish Cypriots is “dependent on processes”, Spokesman Ercakica said that these efforts by the Greek Cypriot side are aimed at overcoming the difficulties their policy has been facing within the EU.

Stating that the Cyprus Issue is not comprised of economic problems of the Turkish Cypriots Spokesman Ercakica added that “Turkish Cypriots are not only demanding economic development but also their political rights. Turkish Cypriots have set out to become equal constituent partners of a new and united Republic of Cyprus that will be founded on the island. Economic development cannot be replaced with our political objectives”.

Stating that the Greek Cypriot side is maintaining its misleading position concerning the 8 July process, Presidential Spokesman Mr. Hasan Ercakica has exemplified this by pointing out to the Greek Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Yiorgos Lillikas who has demanded the Turkish Cypriot side to respond the “current mutual agreement” positively.

Underlining that no proposal, in accordance with the essence of the 8 July agreement, has been submitted by the Greek Cypriot side and no agreement has been reached; Spokesman Ercakica said “If there is such a proposal on the table, we are inviting them to announce it”.