ISTANBUL - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat defended that embargoes imposed on the TRNC will intensify if the Turkish Cypriot side says ''no'' in the referendum.
Speaking at a meeting organized by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) on Thursday, Talat said that Greek Cypriots' efforts to delay referendum were unacceptable.
''However, we will continue observing those efforts aiming at rejection vote. So we in Cyprus and you in Turkey have to be very careful against these efforts. It is not in favor of us, on the contrary, it is against us. It is in favor of Greek Cypriots. It is absolutely not possible for us to allow it,'' he said.
Noting that the Turkish Cypriot side might a little bit get rid of isolation and embargo if the Greek Cypriot side said ''no'' in the referendum, but still Cyprus would join the European Union (EU), Talat said, ''it was wrong because it has already joined. It will officially be declared an EU member on May 1. But remember what happened to Austria. If it joins by saying 'no', it joins with exposure to political isolation.''
Stressing that the result of referendum in Greek Cypriot side was not important if the Turkish Cypriot side said ''no'', Talat said, ''it would be very bad for us because today's structure is not sustainable. It is the scenario which I never want to think of. If the Turkish Cypriot side says no, embargoes will intensify.''
''Very serious obstacles in front of Turkey's EU process will grow and become gigantic. A development like Turkey's getting date and starting accession negotiations can't be expected to happen at least until this issue is resolved. Cases of Turkey before the European Court of Human Rights like the Loizidou case _ actually there are four thousand more shelved cases _ will increase. Turkey can't compensate, meet and shoulder such a financial burden and finally, also the Turkish economy will suffer serious damage,'' he said.
Talat stressed that the Cyprus issue which was the most serious determining factor in Turkey's international affairs would become much chronic. ''And it is a scenario which I never want to think of.''
''We don't want to witness it. Neither Turkey nor we... I suppose that it would not be a patriotic approach having any nation, community, or country experience it. So I say that we Turkish Cypriots are almost ready for Cyprus. Because we know that nothing is in the bag. We prepared ourselves to solve this issue. We know that a lot of our people will exchange places and many more may feel uneasy due to their rights that they suppose to have gotten. However, providing for Turkish Cypriots' welfare and their integration with the world by resolving the Cyprus issue and providing for Turkey's Europe process, its integration with the world depend completely on success of this process,'' he said.
Noting that as the TRNC government, they had not reached a joint decision, Talat said that government partner Democrat Party (DP) led by TRNC Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas had not made a decision on Annan's plan yet.
(MS-AÖ) 08.04.2004