ANKARA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said on Monday that Annan Plan had been negotiated in real sense for the first time in Buergenstock and added they made it a plan that could be said ''yes'' with contentment.
Delivering a speech at the meeting on ''economic side of the Annan plan'' which was held by the Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), Talat said that a global change program had been focused on plans until today regarding exchange of property issue and added that the plan was negotiated only when two developments in Turkey and TRNC were coincided. He said that one of those developments was the effort which Turkish Cypriots exerted for solution and the other one was Turkish people's making an important political revolution and electing a government which had the European Union (EU) vision. He noted that a new vision emerged when those two elements integrated and thus Annan Plan was negotiated for the first time. He said that both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots had acquisitions after the negotiations in Buergenstock and added that Turkish Cypriots gained political equality and property regime has become more clear and guarantees were further strengthened with the final shape of the plan.
Talat said, ''thus, we have brought Annan Plan to the possible best point. This is a plan which can be voted ''yes'' with contentment.''
Noting that it would be the most beneficial solution for two sides in Cyprus to vote ''yes'' in referendum, Talat stressed that if Greek Cypriots said ''no'' in the referendum, Turkish Cypriots should not be punished.
Evaluating the current situation as ''insolubility'', Talat said that this was a situation which did not fit into international law basket and thus a new situation should be created. Talat said that some marginal groups considered the existing situation as an accepted situation, adding that both he and Turkish Cypriot people did not have this approach.
Stating that if Cyprus issue was solved, Turkey would not have any problem, Talat said, ''development of TRNC economy is impossible without a solution to Cyprus issue.'' He added that it was not true to say that only Turkish governments and businessmen made mistakes in this issue.
Talat said that an economy of which political groundwork was not sound could not develop.
Recalling some news stories which said that if Greek Cypriot side voted 'no' to the Annan plan and Turkish Cypriot side voted 'yes' to the plan in referenda which would be held on the island, Taiwan model could be implemented for TRNC, Talat said that Taiwan had earlier been a member of the U.N. Security Council and noted that Taiwan left its place to China and established an economic relation without any recognition under the protection of the United States.
Talat said that people should not have such a dream and added that Cyprus issue had to be solved for improvement of TRNC economy.
He stated that Turkey could construct motorway and airport in TRNC and it did so.
Asked whether or not Turkish Cypriots would have labor guarantee, if the Annan plan was put into practice, Talat said that their people suffered from unemployment now and stated that Turkish Cypriot people went to Britain as unskilled workers.
Replying to a question on exchange of property, Talat recalled that Greek Cypriot people would get back one third of their properties and therefore they could put property regime in international law basket.
Talat added that if Greek Cypriot side voted against the Annan plan in referendum, they would launch a great campaign for improvement of TRNC economy.
(GC-EÖ-AY) 19.04.2004