LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat has said that the Greek Cypriot side ''which had been recognized so far as the representative of whole Cyprus under the principle of obligation'' could no more maintain this claim after the referendums, adding, ''now this new situation can't be perceived as continuation of the old one.''
Talat and TRNC Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas held a news conference and assessed their meetings in Ankara the day before.
Noting that Denktas and he had evaluated policy harmonization and what they could do in coming days with government officials in Ankara, Talat said, ''we saw that there is not any difference of opinion.''
Stating that both Turkey and the TRNC were currently in the phase of ''follow-and-assess'', Talat said, ''because, we are not the ones who should do some things. We fulfilled our duties. Now others have to do some things. In one sense, we wait for the international community, the European Union, the United Nations and leading countries.''
Talat said that the Turkish government and they had been acting upon the vision of resolution and following a joint policy of absolutely lifting isolations.
Noting that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and his team and they had held technical evaluations, Talat said that the process of assessment was underway and that he hoped positive results would be gotten.
Stating that they would hold meetings with officials in Ankara again, Talat said that also a visit by him to the United States in coming days was on the agenda, adding, ''we have not received invitation formally yet but it seems it would happen.''
Stressing that the Greek Cypriot administration which got organized under name of Cyprus Republic had proven in the referendum that ''it could not be the representative of Turkish Cypriots'', Talat said that the world and the European Union (EU) should lift isolation of Turkish Cypriots by taking this into consideration.
Stating that Turkish Cypriots had so far been isolated from the world which believed that Greek Cypriots in general were in favor of resolution of the Cyprus issue, Talat said however it was seen Greek Cypriot people were not ready for resolution.
Noting that the Greek Cypriot side had shown itself as if it was in favor of resolution by hiding itself behind the mistakes of the Turkish Cypriot side, Talat said, ''for the first time it was proven after this process that it is not like that. After this point, there should be very important changes.''
Stressing that the Greek Cypriot side ''which had been recognized so far as the representative of whole Cyprus under the principle of obligation'' could no more maintain this claim after the referendums, Talat said, ''Turkish Cypriots represent themselves. Greek Cypriots cannot represent Turkish Cypriots. The Greek Cypriot administration which got organized under name of Cyprus Republic cannot be the representative of Turkish Cypriots. And it has been proven in the referendum.''
Stressing that a will displayed by a community should bind only that community, Talat said, ''if the Greek Cypriot side has said 'no', this should not cause continuation of isolation of the Turkish Cypriot side. A country cannot blockade a neighboring country by holding a referendum but it is happening today in Cyprus.''
Stating that several European parliamentarians who had stormed Turkey's stance towards Cyprus in the past were now saying that they were ''deceived'' and showing reaction to Greek Cypriots, Talat said, ''it is clearly seen that there is a quite good development in Europe. However, putting it into practice and getting its results are very important for us. So we should never lose our vision.''
Talat added that growth of their economy and getting rid of isolation would let them establish possible partnership in the future on more sound basis.
(MS-AY) 30.04.2004
LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat has said that the Greek Cypriot side ''which had been recognized so far as the representative of whole Cyprus under the principle of obligation'' could no more maintain this claim after the referendums, adding, ''now this new situation can't be perceived as continuation of the old one.''
Talat and TRNC Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas held a news conference and assessed their meetings in Ankara the day before.
Noting that Denktas and he had evaluated policy harmonization and what they could do in coming days with government officials in Ankara, Talat said, ''we saw that there is not any difference of opinion.''
Stating that both Turkey and the TRNC were currently in the phase of ''follow-and-assess'', Talat said, ''because, we are not the ones who should do some things. We fulfilled our duties. Now others have to do some things. In one sense, we wait for the international community, the European Union, the United Nations and leading countries.''
Talat said that the Turkish government and they had been acting upon the vision of resolution and following a joint policy of absolutely lifting isolations.
Noting that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and his team and they had held technical evaluations, Talat said that the process of assessment was underway and that he hoped positive results would be gotten.
Stating that they would hold meetings with officials in Ankara again, Talat said that also a visit by him to the United States in coming days was on the agenda, adding, ''we have not received invitation formally yet but it seems it would happen.''
Stressing that the Greek Cypriot administration which got organized under name of Cyprus Republic had proven in the referendum that ''it could not be the representative of Turkish Cypriots'', Talat said that the world and the European Union (EU) should lift isolation of Turkish Cypriots by taking this into consideration.
Stating that Turkish Cypriots had so far been isolated from the world which believed that Greek Cypriots in general were in favor of resolution of the Cyprus issue, Talat said however it was seen Greek Cypriot people were not ready for resolution.
Noting that the Greek Cypriot side had shown itself as if it was in favor of resolution by hiding itself behind the mistakes of the Turkish Cypriot side, Talat said, ''for the first time it was proven after this process that it is not like that. After this point, there should be very important changes.''
Stressing that the Greek Cypriot side ''which had been recognized so far as the representative of whole Cyprus under the principle of obligation'' could no more maintain this claim after the referendums, Talat said, ''Turkish Cypriots represent themselves. Greek Cypriots cannot represent Turkish Cypriots. The Greek Cypriot administration which got organized under name of Cyprus Republic cannot be the representative of Turkish Cypriots. And it has been proven in the referendum.''
Stressing that a will displayed by a community should bind only that community, Talat said, ''if the Greek Cypriot side has said 'no', this should not cause continuation of isolation of the Turkish Cypriot side. A country cannot blockade a neighboring country by holding a referendum but it is happening today in Cyprus.''
Stating that several European parliamentarians who had stormed Turkey's stance towards Cyprus in the past were now saying that they were ''deceived'' and showing reaction to Greek Cypriots, Talat said, ''it is clearly seen that there is a quite good development in Europe. However, putting it into practice and getting its results are very important for us. So we should never lose our vision.''
Talat added that growth of their economy and getting rid of isolation would let them establish possible partnership in the future on more sound basis.
(MS-AY) 30.04.2004