LEFKOSA - Mehmet Ali Talat, President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), stated that he had a phone conversation with German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier today on opening of the Lokmaci Gate.
Speaking to reports after he returned to TRNC from Turkey, Talat said that Greek Cypriots misled Steinmeier on this issue and created an atmosphere as if the only problem at Lokmaci Gate was "drawing back of the soldiers for 100 metres".
Stressing that Steinmeier asked this point during their talk, Talat said, "I told him that this was an artificial problem, the control at that location would not be carried out by soldiers, and the soldiers would stay at a distance required by the security necessities there."
Talat also noted he told the German FM that a definite distance could not be calculated as Lokmaci Gate was at the city centre.
Talat said Steinmeier did not have any information regarding these points, as Greek Cypriots convinced him the way they wanted.
-DIRECT TRADE REGULATION-
Noting that they discussed the "Direct Trade Regulation" during their phone talk as well, Talat said he expressed his expectations to Steinmeier regarding the matter.
Talat said he indicated that such regulation was of vital importance and Turkish Cypriots waited for it persistently.