President Mehmet Ali Talat met with the UN Secretary General at the UN Headquarters in New York at 3 pm, yesterday (16 October). During the meeting, President Mehmet Ali Talat was accompanied by TRNC’s New York Representative Kemal Gokeri, TRNC Presidency’s Private Secretary Asým Akansoy and Presidency’s Political Advisor Resat Caglar.

This was the first meeting President Talat with the new UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon who took on office in the beginning of 2007.

Speaking following the meeting, President Talat pointing to the fact that it was urgent to solve the Cyprus problem and as the time passed the division of the island was becoming permanent, said he asked Ban-Ki Moon to involve in the Cyprus issue in order to start the negotiations for finding a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem.

Announcing that he conveyed a package of proposals on the issue of confidence-building measures to Ban-Ki Moon, Talat said: “These are in fact the revised version of our proposals we made in July 2006. Therefore, we expect a positive response from Ban Ki-Moon”.

President Talat drew attention to the fact that implementing the confidence-building measures between the two peoples in Cyprus was a very important step and added that within this framework they expected the support of the international community for ending the division of the island and reaching a settlement.

Responding to a question regarding Tassos Papadopoulos’ proposals given to the UN Secretary-General, President Talat said he was not informed on the issue. “I only followed the news appeared in the press. May be, Papadopoulos submitted the proposals with the aim of sabotaging our meeting with Ban-Ki Moon; he announced them very recently”, President Talat added.

On being asked whether he supported Gambari process or not, Talat said the Turkish Cypriot side supported this process adding that however it was important to accelerate this process and implement it. President Talat reminded that he called on Papadopoulos to immediately start the fully-fledged negotiations in 5 September meeting and that this was also amongst the proposals of Gambari process.

Responding to another questions with regard to the details of the proposal on the confidence-building measures, Talat said: “First of all, there are some proposals on the military issues which would give confidence to both peoples. Opening of new border gates is also included in the proposal. However, we should first wait and see the response of the UN and the Greek Cypriot side to our proposals.”

In response to a question regarding the appointment of a new UN representative to Cyprus, Talat said:” We did not discuss this issue. However we asked the UN Secretary General to do what is necessary for the start of the fully-fledged negotiations. If he does this, he would have to appoint a new representative anyway.”

President Talat pointed out that the issue of isolation imposed upon the Turkish Cypriots was a matter in front of the UN and the international community which should be solved. “This is a very unnecessary implementation that could not be understood. I requested the Secretary-General to do his utmost on this issue”, Talat said.

Responding to another question about the forthcoming presidential elections in the Greek Cypriot side, Talat said every aspect of the Cyprus issue was always used by the Greek Cypriot politicians in election periods and added:” What can I say. I think everyone should focus on the solution whether it is an election period or not.”

We have stated, through examples, many times before that the unilateral and unjust EU membership of the Greek Cypriots has been causing problems in terms of the Cyprus Issue and the Greek Cypriot side has been exploiting the privileges this membership has brought, against the Turkish Cypriots.

The fact that this policy, which should immediately be ended, employed by the Greek Cypriot side has had a negative impact both on the peace process in Cyprus and the idea of developing the relations between the two peoples is being proven via the new developments we encounter everyday.

The Greek Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Erato Kozakou – Marcoullis has been wasting all her energy and efforts to threaten those countries that are close and friendly to the Turkish Cypriots. As to the information we have acquired through diplomatic sources, during the meeting she had last week with the authorities of Syria and Kyrgyzstan, Mrs. Marcoullis threatened and pressurized them with breaking off their relations with the EU unless they end their relations with the Turkish Cypriots.

Such behavior is not only beyond the diplomatic customs but it is also a hostile position that is not in line with any EU norm or value. It is time that the Greek Cypriot side stopped displaying such behavior or received a serious warning by the EU members.

Those who wish to see a new partnership state established by the two peoples in Cyprus have to find a way to overcome the problems arising as a result of the EU membership of the Greek Cypriot side who also poses as one of the most important obstacles before such a thing. There is no doubt that significant part of this mission and responsibility is on the shoulders of the EU and the member states who admitted the Greek Cypriot side into the EU alone.

President Mehmet Ali Talat, within the framework of his contacts in New York, yesterday met with the Jewish Leaders of Anti Defamation League (ADL ), which is one of the most important lobby group in USA in the economic field.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting with the ADL leaders President Talat underlined the importance of the meeting and said he was warmly welcomed. President pointing out that the meeting was held after a long preparation period, said the unjust isolation on the Turkish Cypriot people was also discussed during the meeting where he asked support on the issue.

President said the Leaders of the Jewish Community, who constitute the brain of the Jewish Lobby, which has an important and strong position in the USA, during the meeting told him that they want to help the Turkish Cypriot people. President said “They told me that, form now on, they are going to help the Turkish Cypriots both in the USA and in the world.”

President Talat also adding that the Leaders of the Jewish community was in favour of a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus said, during the meeting he explained them how a comprehensive settlement could be reached in Cyprus, how the Greek Cypriot side can be encouraged towards contributing to a settlement and the importance of the lifting of the isolations to achieve this aim.

Responding to a question, President said they invited the Jewish Community leaders to the TRNC and received a positive reply.

President Talat also pointed out that in the meeting he informed the Jewish Community leaders that the TRNC State Television Channel BRT was currently preparing a documentary film on the Exodus of the Jewish people who had also ties with Cyprus in the past.

For his part, Ken Jacobson, High Level Deputy Director of ADL Responsible for National Issues, speaking to press after the meeting said they received important information form President Talat with regard to the Cyprus issue and the period until April 2004 Referenda. Jacobson said the meeting was an important learning process for them.

Jacobson underlining his pleasure form the meeting said he hoped to continue to these meetings also in the future. He said “ We should discuss amongst ourselves the issues taken up during the meeting and decide our next step. We found the opportunity to better understand the Cyprus issue from a new point of view which we haven’t heard or knew before. I am afraid, until today we have not given enough importance to the Cyprus issue. We met with Mr. Talat who gave us a new point of view, therefore the meeting was very important.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý yesterday (16 October) received a group of Dutch academicians who are currently in the TRNC for the studies within the framework of foreign policy program carried out by Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV).

According to the statement issued by the TRNC Foreign Ministry, the delegation of Dutch academicians who were carrying out a research on the project entitled “Legal Dimension of the Cyprus Problem” prepared by the Foundation within the framework of its policies on Cyprus, was informed by Foreign Minister Avcý on the latest developments with regard to the Cyprus issue and the current situation in the island.

Foreign Minister Avcý briefed the academicians on the Cyprus problem, negotiations carried out between the two peoples until today, April 2004 referendum and the developments afterwards. Avcý also conveyed the expectations of the Turkish Cypriot side from the international community.

Academicians pointed out that their first meeting regarding the legal dimension of the Cyprus problem took place in The Hague and the source of information they received in that meeting were mainly from Greek Cypriot side.

Academicians stated that they felt necessary to meet with Turkish Cypriot officials as well, in order to have unbiased information on such a sensitive issue.