PRESIDENT TALAT EVALUATED 5 SEPTEMBER MEETING WITH FOREIGN MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES IN ISTANBUL

TRNC President  Mehmet Ali Talat in a one day visit to Istanbul yesterday  evaluated his meeting with the Greek Cypriot Leader Papadopolous   with  the representatives of foreign media posted in Turkey.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, President Talat said he had provided the inside story of his meeting with the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopulos.

Explaining that  the Greek Cypriot Side was trying to manipulate the media, Mr Talat said the meeting was important as it gave him the opportunity to prevent such manipulations and to enlighten the foreign media on the realities.

“On the 5th of September, we proposed that the 8 July process be speeded up, regulated and disciplined and turned into a result-yielding process. So there is no reason for these proposals not being understood` the President said, reminding that the Turkish Cypriot Side’s thoughts were rejected by the Greek Cypriot Side – which doesn’t have the will to solve the Cyprus problem.

Responding  to  a question asking how  negotiations would continue? President Talat said  contacts would continue through the UN.   President Mehmet Ali Talat has said however,  the Greek Cypriot Side does not have the will to move the 8-July process forward and to bring about a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem. “Therefore, it would not have any meaning to meet with Papadopolous  now, especially at an atmosphere of  election” President added. President said that there were lots of speculative news  with regard to the 5 September meeting in the Greek Cypriot press  and that if the Cyprus issues was turned into a domestic discussion tool  then the solution would be more difficult.

The President said that he could meet again with the Greek Cypriot Leader Papadopulos if he sees any possibility to achieve progress towards a solution during contacts between the two sides through the United Nations.

 

THE SPEAKER OF THE TURKISH GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY KOKSAL TOPTAN ARRIVES IN THE TRNC

The Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Koksal Toptan and his accompanying delegation have arrived in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus  within the framework of  their first official visit to  abroad.

Speaking on his arrival at Ercan Airport, Mr Toptan stressed that a lasting, just and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem can only be reached with respect for the reality that there are two separate communities, states and democracies on the island.

He also called  the international community for the immediate lifting of the unjust international isolation on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Pointing out that his visit to the TRNC was the first by him to a foreign country as the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Mr Toptan expressed the belief that the visit will improve relations between the two countries further.

Accusing the Greek Cypriot Administration of being responsible for the failure of finding a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, he said the Turkish side had fulfilled all its responsibilities towards bringing a solution to the problem.

Mr Toptan said that Turkey together with all its institutions  and particularly with the Grand National Assembly, will continue to  preserve Turkish Cypriot people’s tranquility, security, rights  and  justice and to ensure that  the Turkish Cypriots take their rightful place in the international  arena.

 

AVCI: “GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE’S POLICY IS TO PLAY FOR TIME”

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Turgay Avcý stated that the Turkish Cypriots were always ready for  finding a just, equal and comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus issue, however  during the meeting between President Talat and the Greek Cypriot Leader Papadopolous  it became apparent that the  Greek Cypriot side’s policy was to  play for time.

Foreign Minister Avci stated that Papadopolous  participated to the meeting in order to give a message to his  rivals in the forthcoming presidential elections in south Cyprus, that ‘he was negotiating.’

According to information given from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Office Mr. Avcý speaking in a television program  responded to questions on  5 September meeting. Avcý criticizing the Greek Cypriot side’s stance  said  Papadopolous  had requested a process without any time limits and rejected the Turkish side’s time limitation.