ISTANBUL - Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said, ''our real target is not lifting of some embargoes imposed on TRNC. Our target is to find a solution to the Cyprus issue. We have not lost our vision of solution.''
Prime Minister Talat arrived in Istanbul on Monday.
Replying to questions of journalists after his arrival, Prime Minister Talat said that he would leave for Brussels on Tuesday morning to attend a meeting at the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission in which results of Saturday's referendums in Cyprus would be assessed.
Noting that he would hold talks with the groups at the European Parliament, Talat said, ''during the meetings, we will discuss methods of continuation of European Union (EU) adjustment process and the new situation in the island after Turkish Cypriots voted 'yes' and Greek Cypriots voted 'no' in the referendums.''
Pointing out that he would proceed to Ankara from Brussels, Talat said, ''TRNC Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas will also come to Ankara. We will meet with Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials in Ankara on Thursday. We will try to develop a joint policy. We need new policies in this new period.''
''Turkish Cypriot people should not experience another isolation process because of the decision of Greek Cypriot people. Every nation can make a decision about its own future. However, Greek Cypriots should not be allowed to make a decision about future of Turkish Cypriot people. I believe that the world and the EU will understand us,'' he said.
Recalling that they had applied to the EU General Affairs Council, Prime Minister Talat said, ''we sent a letter to members of the EU General Affairs Council. In our letter, we stressed that the Greek Cypriot side cannot make any decision and put forward any proposal on behalf of Turkish Cypriot side. We stressed that Turkish Cypriot people voted in favor of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan by using their right of self-determination.''
Noting that they had also sent a letter to the prime minister of current EU Term President Ireland, Talat told reporters, ''we requested him that the Cyprus regulations should be suspended in the northern part of the island. We stressed that it was a rightful request since Turkish Cypriot people are not responsible for the failure. The Cyprus regulations cannot be put into practice in the northern part of the island because of Greek Cypriots. We noted that the suspension should also be valid in southern part of the island till unification of Cyprus.''
''We will start a diplomatic process. In our diplomatic initiatives, we will stress that Turkish Cypriot people should not be punished any longer. our real target is not lifting of some embargoes imposed on TRNC. Our target is to find a solution to the Cyprus issue. We have not lost our vision of solution. Now, it is turn of the international community and the Greek Cypriot side to put forward proposals,'' he said.
Prime Minister Talat added, ''I believe that we will be successful. Turkish Cypriot people should get their deserved place in the international platforms. We will struggle for it. Turkey has announced that it would continue supporting us.''
(UK) 26.04.2004