ISTANBUL - Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said, ``our co-operation with Turkey has been continuing at the utmost level. There has been a great consensus of opinion between our countries. We have been carrying out the process of finding a solution to the Cyprus issue with determination. Recent developments are quite promising.``
Prime Minister Talat met on Monday with the executive board of Turkish Industrialists` and Businessmen`s Association (TUSIAD) headed by Omer Sabanci.
Responding questions of journalists following the meeting, Prime Minister Talat said, ``TUSIAD`s approach for democratization and for the process of finding a solution to the Cyprus issue have always encouraged us. TUSIAD put forward the necessity of finding a solution to the Cyprus question. TUSIAD`s approach has very positive impacts on Turkish Cypriot people.``
Talat who thanked TUSIAD, underlined that previous administrations and the current administration assumed a sensitive attitude on Turkish Cypriot people`s joining the EU with a solution before May 2004 and the issue of paving the way for Turkey on this issue.
Stressing that they were going through important days, Talat said, ``we are on the eve of important developments. Finding a solution to Cyprus issue will probably pave the way for Turkey`s EU process. If Cyprus issue is solved till May 2004, Turkey will catch an atmosphere for opening of accession negotiations. We, as Turkish Cypriot people, will continue to exert every kind of efforts in order to increase the role of Turkey in international relations.``
Talat said that their cooperation with Turkey continued at a very high level and there was a great consensus of opinion between the sides, and stated, ``we are carrying out the process of finding a solution to Cyprus issue with determination. Developments are very promising. Turkey and TRNC will observe and go through this dynamism.``
TALAT SAYS SOLUTION OF CYPRUS ISSUE TILL MAY 1 IS IMPORTANT FOR BOTH TURKEY AND TRNC
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said on Monday that solution of Cyprus issue till May 1 was important for both Turkish Cypriots and Turkey.
Talat attended a luncheon hosted in Istanbul by Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV).
In the luncheon, Talat stressed that most important question to be asked in that stage was how to start Cyprus talks.
Talat recalled words of United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan, who said that he would himself fill in gaps unless an agreement was reached and a referendum would be held in the island.
TRNC Prime Minister Talat said, ``therefore, everybody prefers to sign an agreement before a referendum.``
Talat stated that Annan made such a demand taking into consideration the law which was adopted by TRNC parliament and which foresaw a referendum on every issue that restricted sovereignty of TRNC.
But, Talat said, neither of the sides were pleased with that solution.
Talat recalled that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan brought onto agenda ``mediation`` in the Davos summit.
``I prefer not to reply to questions on this issue. I prefer the owner of the proposal to express his own views. But, if you ask why I don`t deal with this issue as TRNC prime minister, I can only say that we are only determined to solve the issue,`` Talat said.
Talat noted that there might be several variations about solution till May and everybody could be uneasy about those variations.
He was not impartial and he was looking at the issue from the perspective of Turkish side, Talat stated.
Talat said that in case a solution was found to Cyprus issue till May 2004, that solution would also beneficial for Turkey`s European Union (EU) membership.
Putting into practice a solution in Cyprus could take two or three years of time after May 1, 2004 and Turkey`s negotiations with EU would start in that process, Talat stressed.
Talat noted that rejection of Turkey`s membership at the cost of interruption of a solution in Cyprus in such a process did not seem possible.
``Reaching a solution will be a big guarantee for Turkey. In this case, Turkey will have a natural lobby in EU. A solution to Cyprus issue till May 2004 is important for both Turkey and Turkish Cypriots,`` Talat said.
Talat stated that Cyprus was undergoing a process in which different views were being discussed and went on saying, ``we have to reconcile those who are for and against a solution. I especially ask my Greek Cypriot friends to know that we are taking the issue seriously. And, as far as I have seen, Turkey is trying to solve this issue as soon as possible. I think that these efforts will give positive outcome. And, I think we will all get rid of this problem which has caused pain to TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece.``
Asked how he and TRNC President Rauf Denktas reached a compromise, Talat said, ``we are establishing such a mechanism that a ship with two captains will steer the ship by reaching an agreement. We have reached a new period. There are many actors in this new period. That is, neither my demand nor some other`s demand will be put into practice. We will make decisions altogether.``
Replying to a question about the decision of National Security Council (NSC), Talat said, ``NSC`s decision has referred to the issue directly for the first time and defended a solution. Therefore, I think this decision should be considered positive. What does `facts in the island` mean? This expression has already been used in Annan plan. I in fact don`t consider Annan plan outside scope of facts in the island.``
(AA) 26.01.2004