ERDOGAN PLEDGES CONTINUED EU REFORMS, SCHROEDER EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU BID
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in Germany for an official visit, yesterday attended the opening ceremony in Cologne of the Turkish-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry alongside German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Speaking at the ceremony, Schroeder said that Berlin would continue to support Turkey’s European Union membership, adding, “You can trust us. We will keep our promise to continue to support Turkey’s EU bid.” He predicted that Turkey’s full membership would be a great chance for both nations. Calling the decision this week of the EU member states' foreign ministers to extend economic aid to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) a “very appropriate” decision, Schroeder added that Germany supported this move. For his part, Erdogan called on German industrialists to invest more in Turkey. The premier stated that bilateral, political and commercial ties had gained momentum since Schroeder's visit to Ankara earlier this year, adding, “We had the opportunity to discuss in detail Turkey's EU membership process and the Cyprus issue.” He stated that Turkey, as a guarantor state for the island, had proved its good will on the Cyprus issue. Touching on Turkey’s EU bid, Erdogan pledged that Ankara would continue its reforms in order to ease Turkey’s getting a date from the EU this December to begin its accession talks. /Aksam/
GUL: “WORLD RECOGNITION SHOULD BE THE TRNC’S REWARD”
Addressing the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) group meeting yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul called Saturday’s historic referendums on Cyprus “a diplomatic success.” He said that the Turkish side had done its best for a Cyprus resolution by accepting the UN plan in Saturday’s referendums, adding that the world should reward the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) by finally recognizing it. “We will work day and night to make the world recognize the TRNC,” added Gul. /Aksam/
FOREIGN MINISTRY CALLS ON OIC COUNTRIES TO RECOGNIZE, ESTABLISH TRADE TIES WITH TRNC
Following Saturday’s historic referendums on the UN Cyprus plan, the Foreign Ministry has launched a series of initiatives to end the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). As part of these initiatives, after efforts targeting European Union and United Nations member states, ministry officials yesterday gave a briefing on the Cyprus issue to member countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Stressing that the Turkish Cypriots had taken a positive stance during the peace process, the officials underlined that it was the Greek side which rejected the UN plan and that the TRNC should not be punished for this. They further called on friendly countries to lift the sanctions from the TRNC and then to begin to establish bilateral relations with it. /Turkiye/
DENKTAS: “GREEK CYPRUS’ EU MEMBERSHIP WILL MEAN INDIRECT ENOSIS”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas reiterated yesterday that since the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN Cyprus plan in Saturday’s referendums, there was no need for him to resign from his post. Denktas charged that Enosis, or political union with Greece, would be achieved indirectly with Greek Cyprus’s EU membership beginning on May 1, adding that the TRNC should formulate its policies in light of this. /Cumhuriyet/
TRNC’S TALAT: “THE GREEK SIDE CANNOT REPRESENT TURKISH CYPRUS”
In Brussels for a series of contacts with European Parliament members, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday condemned Greek Cypriots for their rejection of the UN Cyprus plan and expressed his disappointment at the plan’s failure. Stating that the TRNC was ready to cooperate with the international community and the European Union, Talat told the European Parliament that the Greek Cypriot administration had completely lost its legal standing and could not represent the TRNC. He added that he had urged EU officials to lift sanctions from the TRNC. /Turkiye/
DE SOTO: “I WILL PRESENT A REPORT TO THE UN EXPRESSING THE NEED FOR ANOTHER CYPRUS REFERENDUM”
Speaking after paying a farewell visit to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday, Special UN Cyprus Envoy Alvaro de Soto said that he would present a report to the UN Security Council expressing the need for another referendum on the island. De Soto is expected to visit Athens tomorrow. /Aksam/
TRNC REPRESENTATION PROPOSED AT EUROPEAN COUNCIL PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY
The European Council Parliamentary Assembly has drafted a bill proposing that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) parliamentarians attend the assembly’s full sessions to represent their nation. The bill is set to be debated in the ECPA’s session on Cyprus today. If it is approved, then the TRNC parliamentarians will participate in all full assembly meetings as well as commissions and will also have the right to express their views, but not to vote. Previously, the TRNC parliamentarians were allowed to attend meetings as spectators. The bill also stated that the EU was disappointed by the failure of the Cyprus plan in last weekend’s referendums as a result of the Greek Cypriot rejection, and also hailed the decision to extend financial aid to the TRNC. /Turkiye/
VERHEUGEN CRITICIZES GREEK CYPRUS’ ROLE IN FAILURE OF UN PLAN
The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday evaluated the Cyprus issue in the wake of Saturday’s historic referendums on the island which ended in rejection of the UN Cyprus plan. Addressing the committee, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said that the EU was not responsible for the Cyprus issue and criticized the Greek Cypriots’ stance. He said that in the beginning, the Greek Cypriots had lent their support to United Nations peace efforts on the island, but then had changed their attitude after signing their 2002 EU accession agreement. Praising the Turkish side’s constructive efforts during negotiations, Verheugen stated this had contrasted with the Greek side’s approach. Verheugen called the Greek Cypriots’ concerns over the Turkish side groundless, adding that it was absurd to allege that an EU candidate country would threaten an EU member state. He remarked that the EU would give financial support to the TRNC not only for infrastructure upgrades but also for cultural, social and judicial projects. Commenting on the presence of Turkish troops on the island, the commissioner said that these forces would remain, adding that their number could even rise. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat also spoke to the committee. /Hurriyet/
BOUCHER: “WE HAVE NOTHING BUT PRAISE FOR THE COURAGEOUS TURKISH CYPRIOTS WHO VOTED FOR THE UN PLAN”
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, US State Department spokesmen Richard Boucher said that a historic opportunity had been missed at Saturday’s historic referendums due to the Greek Cypriots’ rejection of the UN plan. “We, the European Union and others are all disappointed by the result. We think that the Greek Cypriot vote against the settlement means that a unique and historic opportunity was lost,” said Boucher. “We have nothing but praise for the courageous Turkish Cypriots who voted for this settlement, as well as the Greek Cypriots who voted in the minority in the referendum.” He added that he didn’t know whether another Cyprus referendum would be held in the near future. /Cumhuriyet/