WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN HASAN ERCAKICA…

It is certainly significant that the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Abdullah Gul visited the TRNC as his first foreign destination. The message this visit bears has clearly been stated in his speeches as well.

The messages conveyed by the President of Turkey are crystal clear: Reaching a comprehensive settlement for the Cyprus problem will turn Eastern Mediterranean into a fertile area of cooperation. Stating that the basic parameter of a settlement to be reached is “political equality and balance”, President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Gul clarified what “political equality and balance” refers to and added that there are two peoples, two democracies and two states on the island.

Despite the precision of the said messages, we have been witnessing that different interpretations are being made both in north and south Cyprus. It is likely that there are different interpretations by leaders of the political parties, columnists and intellectuals after such an important visit.

However, the fact that those who strive not to even mention the goal of “a comprehensive settlement” and proposed integrating the Turkish Cypriots into their own community by means of osmosis as a method in the United Nations General Assembly contradicts with the fact that they have complaints regarding the expressions of Mr. Gul made use of in defining the current situation in Cyprus.

Seeking a settlement for the Cyprus problem, the harmony between the words and deeds should also be taken into consideration. Saying “yes” to the UN Comprehensive Settlement Plan, The Turkish Cypriot side has proven that they are in favor of a settlement and can make sacrifices for it. Turkey has supported this decision of the Turkish Cypriots. Complaints to the UN regarding Turkey by those who rejected the UN Settlement Plan by saying “no” would serve nothing more than creating a tragicomic situation. It is certain that they also are aware of the fact that such complaints do not and will not serve to the settlement of the Cyprus problem. Since they have clearly stated that they do not have such a goal, the whole world should observe that, behind their so called efforts there lies their actual effort which is to maintain the current status quo in Cyprus. Also, those who deem the status quo in Cyprus unacceptable should strive to change the current situation and find ways to encourage the Greek Cypriot side to reach a comprehensive settlement.

Those who, on the contrary, doubt the comprehensive settlement efforts of the Turkish Cypriot side have the opportunity to test the real intentions of the Turkish Cypriot side by providing their support to the proposal President Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat made to the Greek Cypriot Leader Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos on 5 September 2007. As it is known, President Mr. Talat has proposed the resumption of comprehensive settlement negotiations after a 2 or 2 and half months of preparatory period and to reach a settlement by the end of the year 2008.

We frequently observe that the Greek Cypriot side has been living in a dream world and instead of seeking a solution on a realistic basis; they pursue formulations that is unlikely to happen.

The proposal to take the Cyprus problem to the International Court of Justice was absolutely ridiculous. As it is known, only the states that have already reached an agreement to settle their problems by means of this method can apply to the International Court of Justice. Besides the fact that Turkey does not recognize the Greek Cypriot side as a legitimate state, the UN has established the parties of the problem as the Turkish Cypriot side and the Greek Cypriot side. This is an issue determined by the “mission of good offices” vested in the UN Secretary-General by means of the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the international community.

Therefore, the Greek Cypriot thesis of applying to the International Court of Justice and “the two leaders cannot settle the Cyprus issue” approach which was also employed in the Greek Cypriot Spokesman Mr. Palmas’ statement yesterday are nothing more than declaring that the Greek Cypriot side is rejecting the good offices mission of the UN Secretary General.

Following these developments, the Greek Cypriot Leader Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos, who at the moment is in New York to pay a visit to the UN Secretary-General, should be asked whether he is still committed to the good offices mission of the Secretary-General. It should be admitted that the future status of the efforts to reach a settlement for the Cyprus problem is closely linked with the stance the Greek Cypriot side will employ.

Meanwhile, Spokesman Ercakica stated that President Mehmet Ali Talat will meet the Un Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon on 16 October in New York.

 

FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI BRIEFED SWEDISH FOREIGN PRESS MEMBERS

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý yesterday (20 September) gave a briefing to the members of the Swedish Foreign Press Association at the Deputy Prime Ministry’s conference hall.

The meeting was carried out in a very friendly atmosphere, where Avcý began his speech in Swedish language and was applauded by the visiting members.

Continuing his speech in English, Foreign Minister Avcý said that the Swedish people had a good knowledge of the Cyprus issue because of the Swedish troops which were stationed in Cyprus for 15 years as part of the UN peacekeeping forces. He added that many Swedish tourists also visited the TRNC.

Briefing the Swedish journalists on the history of the Cyprus problem, the Foreign Minister also spoke about the recent developments that have taken place in the TRNC economy and tourism industry, as well as mentioning about future plans.

Responding to a question regarding his recent visit to Syria, Avcý said that he had held a series of contacts with Syrian officials as part of mutual visits over the past months.

He said concrete steps towards improving relations between Syria and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus should be expected in the coming days.

Foreign Minister Avcý also stated that they were trying to improve commercial, social and academic relations between the two countries.

 

FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI RECEIVED OIC DELEGATION

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý stated that a significant progress has been achieved in relations between the OIC and the TRNC in the last one year and that there would be more developments in institutional relations in the near future.

Foreign Minister Avcý yesterday received a delegation of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) headed by the Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs of OIC Nabika Diallo, who visited the TRNC in order to discuss a workshop to be organized in the TRNC titled ‘Tourism within the Muslim World’, on 10-14 December.

Speaking during the meeting Foreign Minister Avcý pointed out that within the framework of TRNC Foreign Ministry’s pro-active policies, besides political visits paid to OIC member states, they were also trying to attend all the studies organized by institutions and association affiliated to the OIC.

Explaining that studies towards realizing various OIC activities in the TRNC were also continuing, Avcý reminded that the Youth Forum of the OIC and the international meeting entitled “Youth Initiative Advisory Board for Civilizations Alliance” were also held in the TRNC.

Avcý stated that as a result of multi-dimensional studies to hold OIC activities in the TRNC, the Organization of the Islamic Conference decided to organize a workshop in the TRNC titled ‘Tourism within the Muslim World’, in December.

Avcý pointed out that they proposed the said workshop to take place in the TRNC during the 34^th OIC Foreign Ministers Meeting in Islamabad.

Foreign Minister Avcý also explained that in the forthcoming days they would discuss all the technical details with the OIC members regarding the workshop to be held in December and speedily start the necessary preparations.

Continuing, Foreign Minister Avcý stated that Turkish Cypriot experts and academicians specializing in the field of tourism will also be contributing to the workshop.

Saying that the TRNC once more proved that it was ready to undertake efficient roles in the OIC and contribute to its activities, Avcý stressed that the Turkish Cypriot people would continue to work towards having the unjust international isolations on the TRNC removed as well as to voice its just cause to the international community.

Avcý also announced that he was invited by the visiting OIC delegation to the ‘11th Trade Fair for the Islamic Countries’ which will take place in Dakar, Senegal on the 21-25 November.

Also speaking, the Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs of OIC Nabika Diallo gave information about the activities of the OIC.

Pointing to the importance of holding the workshop in the TRNC, which is under isolations, Diallo said they were ready to provide every kind of support to Muslim Turkish Cypriots.