PRESIDENT TALAT RETURNS TO TRNC

The President who completed his contacts in Brussels returned to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus last night.

Speaking upon his arrival at Ercan Airport, The President  described his contacts  in Brussels as useful and productive. The President evaluated his meeting with the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek and his contacts  at the  EU institutions’ permanent representatives. President Mehmet Ali Talat said that the future of the Turkish Cypriots  lay with becoming part of the European Union, integrating with the rest of the world and settling the Cyprus Problem.

Explaining that  he hadn’t the opportunity to meet the previous EU President  and it  had been three years since he had met the President of the European Parliament, Talat said  the meeting was important  and that he had briefed the President of the European Parliament on the Turkish Side’s positions and expectations regarding the ongoing negotiations.

Talat pointed out  that he had also conveyed to Buzek his expectations from the European Parliament and listed these as the declaration of Turkish as an official language by the European Parliament, the establishment of TRNC-EP Joint Parliamentary Commission and the direct representation of the TRNC at the Parliament as envisaged in the Annan Plan.

Stating that they had discussed ways of easing the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots  during the meeting, the President explained that the Greek Cypriot Administration’s EU membership posed a serious obstacle in achieving this.

Touching upon his other contacts, the President said that he had discussed with the Director General for Enlargement Michael Leigh issues concerning the implementation of the Green Line Regulation as well as direct trade.As for his meeting with the European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Turkey, Dutch MEP Ria Oomen Ruijten, the President said that he had conveyed the Turkish Side’s objections and concerns regarding areas in Turkey’s report concerning Cyprus.Talat expressed the view that the inclusion of issues being negotiated in the talks in the report was dangerous.

 

GERMANY’S TURKISH ASSOCIATION INITIATIVE  CONDEMS EMBARGOE IMPOSED ON TRNC

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Honorary Consulate in Germany’s Werl province organized a meeting that  evaluated the past and present of the Cyprus issue.

The meeting was attended by the German Turkish Association Initiative Platform which is made up of 338 non-governmental organizations.

The TRNC’s Honorary Consul in Werl, Kandemir Ozdemir called on the non-governmental organizations to support the workings of the organizations that are trying to promote the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and   lift the embargoes enforced against the TRNC.

In an opening speech Mr. Ozdemir  informed the participants about the future expectations of  the Turkish Cypriots and    said  “we, as the Turkish Cypriots want peace in Cyprus”. Stating that if a honoured peace  was found to the Cyprus issue,  the two communities  would have a better life,  Ozdemir said  the    46 years long social, cultural and political  background should also be reflected in this peace.

Kandemir Ozdemir also underlined  that  peace could only be brought to the island in 1974  with the

Turkish Army.

Reminding that despite  the Greek Cypriots  were  accepted into the EU, the promises given to the  Turkish Cypriots were not kept, Ozdemir said they were deceived by the EU and  none of the EU’s  promises was kept.  TRNC Honorary Consul  Kandemir Ozdemir said “…we  have been living under embargoes for 46 years.”

Following Kandemir’s speech, Germany’s Turkish Association Initiative Chairman Isa Ilyasoglu read the condemnation declaration  of the initiative.

The declaration  condemned the inhumane embargoes imposed against the Turkish Cypriots and called on everyone around the world who supports human rights to rally for the lifting of these inhuman embargoes. The declaration said  “ we announce to the whole world that we will support and be by the side of Turkish Cypriots in their just cause.”

Ilyasoglu also condemned the latest report on Turkey prepared by the European Parliament that calls for the Turkish army in the north of the island to leave and for the closed city of Maras to be given to the Greek Cypriot Administration.

He reminded that the Turkish army was on the island with the rights gained by the guarantorship agreements.

He also touched upon the Orams case and evaluated the British High Court’s decision to be a political one and added that Turkey and the TRNC should start a new initiative against this decision.

Around 30  association representatives,  who participated the meeting, in their statements to the press  also asked the lifting of the inhuman embargo  imposed on TRNC and   announced that  they would launch a petition of  50 thousand signatures in April  for this purpose and would  convey it to the Germany’s Foreign Ministry.