WASHINGTON - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat met on Wednesday with Henry Hyde, Chairman of Committee on International Relations of the U.S. House of Representatives in the U.S. Congress.
Talat said that they expressed their views on direct flights to TRNC and lifting of isolation in the meeting.
''In the Congress, they told us that isolation is a bad thing and they cannot accept any sort of it. They also said that they will decide what they will do by discussing issues and stated that they know they should do something. It is of great importance for us. It is a new situation,'' he noted.
When asked whether or not the United Stated needed a decision of the Congress to start direct flights to TRNC, Talat said, ''I don't think so'' and added that the administration should make a decision and recommendation on this issue.
''I think that the (U.S.) administration also has a positive attitude. When we explain our problems on direct flights and its negative effects to our tourism sector and economy, we see that they have a similar view with us (that limitation over direct flights to TRNC should be lifted),'' he said and noted that they demanded limitation should be lifted as soon as possible.
Talat said that they told American officials that if they were to wait the European Union (EU), they would be too late and noted that American side understood it.
TRNC Prime Minister Talat stressed that American officials would announce plan for decreasing problems of TRNC as soon as possible.
(EÖ-AÖ) 06.05.2004