It appears that the Greek Cypriot side has recently, excluding the Turkish Cypriot side, increased its efforts directed towards establishing contacts with the Government of Turkey through various channels. The most recent example of such efforts has been witnessed when the Greek Cypriot side attempted to entrust “the duty of mediation” to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain during his visit to South Cyprus.

The Greek Cypriot side, who is well aware of the fact that such futile efforts have never yielded results in the past and do not have the prospects of doing so in the future, initiates such attempts and insists on their demands from the other countries as part of the strategy they implement to leave the Cyprus problem in a deadlock. Realizing that under the current conjuncture they will not be able to settle the Cyprus problem in accordance with their own interests and is striving to render the 8 July Agreement ineffective and inefficient, the Greek Cypriot side is trying to gain time by alleging that settlement of the problem can only be reached as result of direct contacts that will be carried out with Turkey. Instead of employing meaningless attempts which have already been proven futile, the Greek Cypriot side should seek ways to agree with the Turkish Cypriot side who is one of the two main parties of the Cyprus problem.

Those countries who become instruments to such ulterior motives of the Greek Cypriot side, should be aware of the fact that, contrary to the expectations, such attempts will not only strengthen the intransigent stance of the Greek Cypriot side but will also serve to the deadlock of the Cyprus problem. Those who decide to shoulder the role of a mediator concerning the Cyprus problem should initiate such attempts by Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriot sides instead of Turkey. What is expected from these countries and the Greek Cypriot side is to recognize the political existence of the Turkish Cypriots and to provide their support to the efforts of reaching a settlement for the Cyprus problem within the framework of the established UN parameters and under the umbrella of the UN.

It was reported that President Mehmet Ali Talat presented a new package of proposal written in English to the Greek Cypriot side regarding the 8 July process.

Speaking at BRT television channel, General Secretary of the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) Omer Kalyoncu stated that the Turkish Cypriot side was expecting a response from the Greek Cypriot side for the new package of proposal on the 8 July process.

Kalyoncu pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side’s latest attempt to make the Spanish Foreign Minister a mediator was directed towards rendering 8 July process ineffective.

Kalyoncu stated that the Greek Cypriot administration, which was trying to distort the fact that the Cyprus problem should be negotiated between the two peoples, was aiming to make the Cyprus issue a problem between Turkey and the Greek Cypriot side.

Responding to the questions of the Cyprus Turkish News Agency (TAK), Kalyoncu noted that the Turkish Cypriot side’s package of proposal was conveyed to the Greek Cypriot side by Presidential Under-Secretary Rasit Pertev during his meeting with Greek Cypriot administration’s Director of Diplomatic Office Tassos Tzonis last week.

Kalyoncu explained that the package included the working methods of the technical committees and working groups.

Following the rejection for the start of scheduled and charter flights between North Cyprus and the UK by the British government, Cyprus Turkish Airlines (CTA) and British Tour Operator CTA Holidays Ltd., brought British Government into the court.

According to the information given by the Cyprus Turkish Airlines a case was filed in the British Courts on Monday.

The British government rejected the permission to be given to direct flights by claiming that it was against the Chicago Agreement On 1944 International Civil Aviation.

In the statement it was pointed out that the British government wrongly interpreted the Chicago Agreement and that this agreement did not prevent the launching of direct flights, therefore permission should be given for the start of direct flights. It was also stated that the British government on many occasions had supported the direct flights and announced that it would let the direct flights to start as long as it was in conformity with its responsibilities stemming from international law.

Cyprus Turkish Airlines, which is transferring 100 thousand passengers annually from the UK to North Cyprus, should make a stop over in Turkey in order to realize its flights and this was increasing the cost of CTA and the time of flights.