PRESIDENT TALAT: “THERE ARE NO CONCESSIONS GIVEN TO TURKISH
CYPRIOTS...THEIR VESTED RIGHTS WERE ACCEPTED IN OTHER BASIS”
President
Mehmet Ali Talat has briefed members of the TRNC Parliament on the new
negotiation process launched in Cyprus in an extraordinary session and
summarized the developments since the 23rd of May (2008).
President
underlined that the political parties were aware of the issues discussed
during the negotiations since they have the opportunity to see all the
documents produced by the working groups and technical committees,
therefore there weren’t much things to add.
Giving
information especially on his latest meeting with Greek Cypriot leader
Demetris Christofias President Talat said if any new developments arise as
the result of the meetings on the 11th and 18th
September a new evaluation meeting could take place in the Parliament.
President
Mehmet Ali Talat responding to the Greek Cypriot leader’s statement in
which he claimed that the Greek Cypriot side gave a concession by
accepting a federation in 1977, said that the Cyprus Republic is not a
unitary state anyway.
Describing Christofias' statement as interesting, Talat said it is a
serious misfortune to qualify it as a concession. President added: ‘This
is not a concession; this means the acceptance of rights of the Turkish
Cypriots in other basis’.
Noting
that there are many agreements signed after the 1977, the President asked
why Christofias is going back to 31 year ago instead of today.
Explaining that he expressed his response to Christofias during 3
September meeting, Talat said there are no concessions given to Turkish
Cypriots but an existing functional federative state was turned to a
bi-zonal federative system.
He also
said he is expecting that the issue will be put on the agenda of meetings
that will be held in the coming days.
SOYER: “A SOLUTION SHOULD BE BASED ON THE POLITICAL EQUALITY
OF THE TWO PEOPLES WITHIN A FEDERAL STRUCTURE”
Following
the extraordinary session of the parliament yesterday (4 September),
leaders of political parties made evaluations on the new negotiations
process.
The
Leader of the Republican Turkish Party- Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer
has said it was a fruitful meeting adding that everybody should work on to
move the process forward.
Prime
Minister Soyer stated that their aim was to achieve a solution where the
Turkish Cypriot state and Greek Cypriot state would be equally represented
in a federal structure based on partnership and political equality.
Explaining that following the 24 April 2004 referendum the Greek Cypriot
side by using the advantage of being an EU member tried to shift the
Cyprus issue from the UN basis to the EU basis Soyer said with the start
of the negotiations on 3 September this approach has changed. Soyer added
that the negotiations have started with the aim of reaching a
comprehensive settlement.
FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI: “WE SUPPORT PRESIDENT TALAT’S EFFORTS”
The
Leader of the Freedom and Reform Party Deputy Prime Minister – Foreign
Minister Turgay Avcý also speaking following the extraordinary Parliament
meeting yesterday expressed the belief that such exchange of views will be
useful while the process is moving forward.
Foreign
Minister Avcý expressed full support to President Talat within the
framework of his efforts to achieve a settlement on the basis of the
principles of bi-zonality, two equal constituent states, political
equality of the two peoples and Turkey’s guarantee.
FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI: “TURKEY’S GUARANTEE IS A SINE QUA NON”
Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý has stressed
that Turkey’s guarantee was a sine qua non for the Turkish Cypriot people.
Speaking
on BRT’s news programme, Foreign Minister Avcý stated that the Turkish
Cypriot side always acts with common sense and calmness however they could
not always see the same attitude from the Greek Cypriot side.
Commenting on the Greek Cypriots’ decision to cancel the religious
ceremony which was supposed to take place on 2 September at Ayios Mamas
Church in North Cyprus in reaction to not being able to use the Yesilýrmak
gate for crossing over to North Cyprus and Greek Cypriot aide George
Iacovou’s decision to withdraw from the negotiation table accordingly Avcý
said this was meaningless. “Then we shall ask the following question: Did
Ozdil Nami withdraw from the negotiation table as a result of the tension
in the village of Pile? said Avcý, adding that first of all the Greek
Cypriot administration should be mentally ready for a solution.
Reminding
that the Greek Cypriot side has taken new initiatives for oil exploration
around the waters of Cyprus just days before the launch of negotiations,
Avcý described the move as another example to unacceptable steps that
should be avoided in a solution process.
Reminding
that during the April 2004 referenda there were two separate ballot boxes,
one in the North and the other in the South Foreign Minister Avcý said
this was a good answer to those who allege that there is only one people
in Cyprus. He also underlined the need for the Greek Cypriot side to agree
on the reality that there are two equal peoples with different languages
and religions living in Cyprus and that a solution will be brought to the
Cyprus problem on this basis.
Answering
a question on statements being issued by Greek Cypriot officials that the
continuation of Turkey’s guarantee over the island is unacceptable, Avcý
explained that Turkey’s guarantee was not a new situation in Cyprus and
reminded that guarantee system also existed in the 1960 partnership
republic. Continuing Foreign Minister Avcý pointed out that guarantorship
is the assurance for people to live in tranquility.
Foreign Minister Avcý added that the painful experiences of the past
proved how vital and essential Turkey’s guarantorship was.
