Talat: Few Issues Should Be Left To Turkey, Greece And U.N. Secretary General Annan

LEFKOSA - Mehmet Ali Talat, Prime Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Friday that they should leave very few issues to Turkey, Greece and U.N. Secretary General in Cyprus negotiations, stating that, ''the less issues we leave undecided, the more beneficial it is both for us and the Greek Cypriot side.''
Replying to questions of reporters, Talat said today they had an agenda on temporary arrangements, and noted that they discussed transitory courts, judges, and government buildings. He said they did not discuss essential issues.
Stating that there were many things to be done and that essential issues should be taken up, Talat said there was a limited time and that they have not yet involved in a study in line with this limited time.
Talat said there was a timetable and that they committed to abide by the timetable. He said, ''I mean formation of national anthem and flag committee and appointment of judges are put into a timetable. We should abide by this timetable. I believe that we should start negotiations on essential issues. We should leave very few issues to Annan, even Turkey and Greece because it is us who will live with this agreement. Turkey, Greece and the U.N. will be affected, but we will be those who live it. To this end, we should solve the question. We should start to study on it seriously starting as of Tuesday. I believe that we will start it because there is necessary determination in our team.''
When journalists reminded Talat the contradictory statements of EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen about derogations and asked about his views, Talat said what the EU official told them was clear.
Talat said, ''there is a prevision in EU Accession agreement. It says when Cyprus problem is solved, then that solution agreement will be modified to the EU regulations. What was meant here is that those envisioned in the agreement will be included in the EU regulations. As this is an order, request and demand of the primary law of the EU, the modifications that are made accordingly will be exempted from an attack that would be made in jurisdiction. Our EU Coordination committee works to see how true this is and whether or not we will decide by legal interpretation or make a more detailed research. We asked for a clear information from the EU.''
Talat said they would not act basing on the words and noted that they would be in an effort to learn directly the understanding EU would assume. ''We will be able to say something definite only then.''
(AY-AÖ) 21.02.2004