N Cyprus President Talat Speaks On "otherside Of The Coin" At The E.P.

BRUSSELS - Mehmet Ali Talat, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), delivered a speech on Monday at a symposium titled "Other Side of The Coin: Giving A Voice To Turkish Cypriots" organized by the Liberal Group in the European Parliament in Brussels.
Talat indicated that Turkish Cypriots made adjustments in their regime and political structures to integrate with the EU and noted that Turkish Cypriots were still maintaining their pro-EU stance despite EU`s failure to keep its promises to the TRNC.
Talat reminded that the Greek Cypriot Administration who rejected the UN`s `Annan Plan` in order to represent the island by itself, had deceived the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and former EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen with letters written in the EU accession process.
Drawing attention to the double standards in the island against TRNC, Talat emphasized that despite TRNC was the side that took the first steps to remove the Lokmaci gate, the whole world got in line to thank the Greek Cypriot Administration.
"But the Greek Cypriot Administration took down the barricade only to build an even better one. The barricade remains but the whole world thanked the Greek Cypriots," said Talat.
Talat pointed out that Turkish Cypriots` lack of voice caused such bizarre situations and said if they tried to contact a country in the EU, the Greek Cypriot Administration would give hell to that country.
Talat argued that not just UN`s "Annan Plan" but also EU`s "Nice" agreement that took effect in 2003 granted 2 seats to the Turkish Cypriots at the EP, and stated that these seats were invaded by the Greek Cypriots.
"Does this have another example in the world? A community represented by its opponents," asked Talat.
Talat said though only Greek Cypriot Administration was admitted to the EP, the cultural heritage in TRNC was discussed at EP`s Committee on Culture and Education and said it was very bizarre that they were not present at a meeting concerning them.
Cyprus joined the EU as a divided island when Greek Cypriots in the South rejected the UN reunification plan in twin referendums in 2004 even though the Turkish Cypriots in the North overwhelmingly supported it. The promise made by EU foreign ministers before the referendums to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and establish direct trade with North Cyprus remains unfulfilled.
Gaining independence from the UK in 1960, Cyprus became a bi-communal Republic where Greek and Turkish Cypriot constituent communities would share power guaranteed by the UK, Turkey and Greece. However, reluctant to share power and pursuing a policy of Enosis (Union) with Greece, Greek Cypriots soon expelled Turkish Cypriots from power and terrorised and ghettoised them.
Decades long armed attacks on the defenceless Turkish Cypriots culminated in 1974 when an Athens-backed Greek Cypriot military coup on the island led to Turkey`s military intervention. Although the Republic of Cyprus as described in the 1959 agreements is no longer there, Greek Cypriots continue to enjoy this title and international recognition while the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus, a fully democratic government representing Turkish Cypriots, still suffers under an unfair political and economic blockade.