PRESIDENT TALAT :"THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE HAS BEEN PLAYING FOR TIME AND TRYING TO GAIN ADVANTAGES IN TURKEY’S EU NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS"

The Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Koksal Toptan – who arrived in the Republic Monday, has been received by President Mehmet Ali Talat. Speaking during the meeting, President Talat said that Turkey’s economic and political support is giving strength to the Turkish Cypriot people and is also important during the negotiations.

For his part, President Talat pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot Side and Turkey has been doing its best to bring about a solution to the Cyprus problem.

`This is a reality known by the whole world` he said, adding that it’s not the Turkish Side which should take an initiative towards a solution.
Reminding that the Turkish Cypriot Side had proposed that the 8 July process be regulated and that comprehensive negotiations restarted, President pointed out that this proposal was rejected by the Greek Cypriot Side.
The President said that the Greek Cypriot Side wanted to return to the point reached 14 months ago and to restart the 8-July process.

Stating that the Greek Cypriot Administration was playing for time, he said `the Greek Cypriot Side has been playing for time and trying to gain advantages in Turkey’s EU negotiations process`.

`The Turkish Cypriot Side is very relaxed in its current position as no one can find anything to criticize it with regard to its pro-solution stance` the President said, adding that Turkey’s continued support has been giving strength to the Turkish Cypriot people.

For his part, Mr Toptan called on the international community to support the efforts being waged by the Turkish Cypriot people and Turkey towards bringing about a just and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

Speaking during the meeting, Mr Toptan said he was pleased to see the economic and social development achieved in the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot People’s trust for future.

He stressed that Turkey will continue to provide support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to prepare a better future for the Turkish Cypriot people.

On the Cyprus issue, Mr Toptan said that all should accept the reality that there are two people and states on the island and called on the international community to support the efforts being waged by Turkey and the TRNC towards a solution by lifting the isolation on the Turkish Cypriot people.

 

TRNC PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN ERCAKICA EVALUATED 5 SEPTEMBER MEETING

In his weekly press conference organized yesterday, TRNC Presidential Spokesman Ercakýca evaluated the 5 September meeting between President Talat and the Greek Cypriot Leader Papadopolous and said:

" As the TRNC Presidency, we would like to underline some facts concerning the meeting that took place between President Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot Leader Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos on 5 September 2007.

1. The Turkish Cypriot side has attended this meeting with the best intentions to regulate, accelerate and as a result start to implement the 8 July Agreement. Underlining that a comprehensive settlement should no longer be delayed, the 8 July Agreement envisages that preparatory works must be started via the working groups so as to resume the comprehensive settlement negotiations.

2. Since 14 months have passed after the signing of the 8 July Agreement, the Turkish Cypriot side has proposed to set a time limit for the period to implement the agreement and by the end of the said period, to commence the comprehensive settlement negotiations in accordance with the purpose of the agreement. The Turkish Cypriot side has also proposed that, in line with the 8 July Agreement, both sides should declare their intent that the Cyprus problem is to be settled by the end of 2008.

3. Rejecting the proposals of the Turkish Cypriot side, the Greek Cypriot Leader Mr. Papadopoulos has not introduced any other proposals. Instead, he proposed to establish only a couple of working groups and to allow the process linger. This stance employed by Mr. Papadopoulos is remarkable in terms of indicating the fact that Mr. Papadopoulos is not concerned about the wasted period of 14 months at all. This stance completely contradicts the 8 July Agreement. Considering that the 8 July Agreement stresses the need not to delay a comprehensive settlement, it can even be said that the period of 14 months should be accounted for.

4. The discussions that took place since the 5 September verify what we have stated above. However, the fact that the Greek Cypriot Leader Mr. Papadopoulos has refrained from responding to the question of whether we will have to wait for "14 months, 14 years or 140 years" asked by President Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat is significant. It the response to this very question that will determine who has adopted the 8 July Agreement and who has not. Refraining from responding to this question, Mr. Papadopoulos has revealed that he has not adopted the 8 July Agreement and is spending efforts to exploit this Agreement as a tool to avert the comprehensive settlement negotiations.

Following the 5 September meeting, different kinds of scenarios has been put forward in the Greek Cypriot side concerning the negotiation process of the Cyprus problem. These scenarios should be assessed with a cool state of mind. It should not be forgotten that the Greek Cypriot side is going through an election period, the Cyprus problem and the relations with the Turkish Cypriot people have always been the most important items of the election campaigns and such scenarios are related with the election campaigns rather than the Cyprus problem itself."

 

PERTEV MEETS REHN

The Presidential Under Secretary Rasit Pertev has flown to Brussels for contacts with the EU’s Comissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn. Mr. Pertev will also meeting with foreign diplomats.

Speaking to the TAK news agency after meeting with Mr. Rehn, the Presidential Undersecretary said that relations between the EU and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus were on top of his meeting with the EU commissioner.

Mr. Pertev also said he informed Commissioner Rehn on the 5th September meeting held between President Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos.
The Presidential Undersecretary Rasit Pertev is expected to return to the Republic tomorrow