BRUSSELS - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said on Wednesday that they would never accept Greek Cypriots' representing whole island.
Talat, who is currently in Brussels to participate in preparatory meeting of International Donors' Conference on Cyprus, held a press conference.
Stating that any change could not be made in timetable and process which was determined by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan on Cyprus, Talat said that no one had victory and Annan plan put forth a compromise. He stressed that postponement of referenda could not be accepted.
Replying to a question on his view about Greek Cypriot deputies' attitude against Annan plan in the meeting of European Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission, Talat said, ''the issue has developed very interestingly. Greek Cypriot side had seemed in favor of solution for years. It benefited from attitude of Turkish Cypriot side which was not in favor of solution and which did not want negotiation. Therefore, (Greek Cypriot) side seemed good to the world. When Turkish Cypriot policy changed its direction and when it has become closer to European values based on modern and peaceful facts, the image that Greek Cypriot side created messed up. Greek Cypriots believed that Turkish Cypriot side would have blocked negotiations and left the negotiation table in New York. In the end, a decision was taken on holding referendum. When Greek Cypriots faced with the fact, they have got into an impossible situation. Greek Cypriot people saw the solution not as a imaginary thing, but as a fact. I understand them. It is not easy to face with facts. They are searching for an excuse now.''
Noting that Turkish Cypriot side would continue its determination, Talat said that they should help Greek Cypriots. He said that the side which would block solution would suffer a lot.
Talat noted that a single 'yes' in referendum would not solve the problem, there was need for two sides' saying 'yes' in the referendum and stressed that Turkish Cypriots were bored with postponements and it not possible for them to accept postponement. He recalled that U.N. Secretary General Annan set a date.
Stating that if Greek Cypriots voted 'no' to the Annan plan in referendum, Turkish Cypriot would expect that tolerance should be showed to Turkish Cypriots, Talat said that Greek Cypriots should assess the situation in this process.
When reminded that if Greek Cypriot side voted 'no' to the Annan plan, the European Union (EU) would accept the Greek Cypriot side as a full member and Greek Cypriots would represent whole island, Talat said, ''we never accepted Greek Cypriots' representing whole island. U.N. Secretary General has also confirmed it many times. We don't accept this attitude of the EU. We show actually that we don't accept it, but we also suffer from it. This situation causes Turkey problems in its international relations and it also causes isolation of Turkish Cypriots. We are paying the cost of it. Despite this, we will never accept Greek Cypriots' representing us.''
(EÖ-AY) 15.04.2004