Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer stated that searching for a different solution rather than full-fledged negotiations would frustrate all the works of the leaders.

Prime Minister Soyer stressed that starting full-fledged negotiations is the only way forward towards achieving a solution to the Cyprus Problem.

He also said that the Turkish Cypriot side which had proved its vision in 2004 to reunify the island was still committed to that vision.

Speaking during the regular Ledra Palace round table meeting of representatives of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot political parties organized by the Slovakian Embassy yesterday (12 June), Soyer pointed our that nothing could substitute for a political settlement in Cyprus and that the current status quo on the island was neither sustainable nor acceptable, a view he added widely held by the international community.

Pointing out that the long standing stalemate in the Cyprus Problem had ended when the two leaders first met on the 21^st of March Soyer said that much progress has been achieved since then in moving the process forward.

Stating that the full-fledged negotiations should have a target date to achieve a mutual acceptable settlement, the Prime Minister said it was possible to extend this deadline if work was not completed but progress was being achieved.

Soyer also highlighted the need to having a dead-lock resolving mechanism which the two leaders could consult should they fail to iron out or mediate differences on some issues.

Referring to the EU’s offer to assist the ongoing process, the Prime Minister said that the role of the EU in the UN sponsored process should be limited to providing technical assistance and to accommodate the solution achieved by the two sides.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý criticizing the statement of Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni to the effect that guarantees and the rights of intervention were practices of the past and were unfamiliar and unacceptable in the European family said Turkey’s guarantee right was a sine qua non for a settlement.

Avcý responding to reporters’ questions yesterday on Bakoyanni’s statement stated that he could not understand the mentality behind Bakoyanni’s words.

Avcý pointing out that the Greek Cypriot administration and Greece have recently displayed the view that “EU’s guarantee was satisfactory for Cyprus” said Bakoyanni’s words were the reflection of this approach.

Pointing out that both the TRNC government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs support the continuation of the negotiations, Avcý said he would do his best for ensuring the continuation of the negotiations which would lead to a comprehensive and just settlement. Avcý added that, however supporting the continuation of the negotiations did not mean that we were ready for a settlement under Greek Cypriot terms. Avcý underlined that both Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration should understand the fact that Turkey’s effective guarantee is a must for a settlement.

Avcý said if there was a good will no one should be disturbed from the guarantorship of Turkey, Greece and the UK, but if there was a bad intention just like in 1960s, than it meant we were right in our concerns.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý stated that the Greek Cypriot administration’s act of signing a memorandum with the UK last week and intervention into the frequencies of Turkish television channels NTV, ATV and ART this week, is dynamiting the solution.

Speaking during a meeting yesterday (12 June), Foreign Minister Avcý pointed out that the Greek Cypriot administration’s intervention into the frequencies of Turkish television channels was aimed at preventing the Turkish Cypriot people’s voice from being heard in the world.

Explaining that the TRNC Foreign Ministry and the High Broadcasting Board were pursuing a joint study on this issue, Foreign Minister Avcý said this incident has been protested and added that however a written protest was not sufficient. Avcý said if the Greek Cypriot side continues to intervene in the frequencies of Turkish TV channels, the Turkish Cypriot side would response in a similar way. Avcý added that the Greek Cypriot administration’s such attempts would fail.