LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said on Saturday that they had reached the current situation by the policies of the TRNC government, adding, ''it is the government which will carry out the next diplomatic step.''
Holding a news conference, Talat evaluated the results of Saturday's referenda. Noting that the result pleased Turkish side, but saddened in general, Talat said, ''because our aim was to solve Cyprus problem, form united Cyprus republic and enter the European Union (EU). We, as Turkish Cypriots, unfortunately could not achieve them.''
Noting that Turkish Cypriots had fulfilled their responsibilities and met all the requests including the timetable of international community, Talat wanted international community to determine what kind of steps should be taken from now on.
Noting that Turkish Cypriot people wanted solution and the EU membership and showed its will to open the path of Turkey, Talat said that their efforts for solution would not change.
He added that they would carry out a very serious struggle for lifting of the isolation of Turkish Cypriots and they would remain distant to policies which stated Turkish Cypriots as intransigent.
Talat said that one side would enter EU by rejecting the plan which was backed by the EU and the united Nations, while the side which accepted this plan remained outside the EU and they would tell to whole world that it was a contradiction.
''We have a very important process in front of us. We need a very serious support to diplomatic step,'' Talat said and added that they were in a historical process and they, as the TRNC government, would not give up this motivation and acceleration.
Upon a question on the possibility of the repeat of referendum, Talat said that they did not have such an issue on their agenda.
Noting that they, as Turkish Cypriot side, fulfilled their mission and voted ''yes'' in the referendum, Talat said that if a referendum was proposed, they would consider its conditions.
Noting that the conditions would change after May 1, Talat said that he did not reject such a possibility, but he did not accept as well.
(GC-MS) 24.04.2004
LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said on Saturday that they had reached the current situation by the policies of the TRNC government, adding, ''it is the government which will carry out the next diplomatic step.''
Holding a news conference, Talat evaluated the results of Saturday's referenda. Noting that the result pleased Turkish side, but saddened in general, Talat said, ''because our aim was to solve Cyprus problem, form united Cyprus republic and enter the European Union (EU). We, as Turkish Cypriots, unfortunately could not achieve them.''
Noting that Turkish Cypriots had fulfilled their responsibilities and met all the requests including the timetable of international community, Talat wanted international community to determine what kind of steps should be taken from now on.
Noting that Turkish Cypriot people wanted solution and the EU membership and showed its will to open the path of Turkey, Talat said that their efforts for solution would not change.
He added that they would carry out a very serious struggle for lifting of the isolation of Turkish Cypriots and they would remain distant to policies which stated Turkish Cypriots as intransigent.
Talat said that one side would enter EU by rejecting the plan which was backed by the EU and the united Nations, while the side which accepted this plan remained outside the EU and they would tell to whole world that it was a contradiction.
''We have a very important process in front of us. We need a very serious support to diplomatic step,'' Talat said and added that they were in a historical process and they, as the TRNC government, would not give up this motivation and acceleration.
Upon a question on the possibility of the repeat of referendum, Talat said that they did not have such an issue on their agenda.
Noting that they, as Turkish Cypriot side, fulfilled their mission and voted ''yes'' in the referendum, Talat said that if a referendum was proposed, they would consider its conditions.
Noting that the conditions would change after May 1, Talat said that he did not reject such a possibility, but he did not accept as well.
(GC-MS) 24.04.2004