ISTANBUL - Mehmet Ali Talat, the Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said on Saturday that he met with the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and that he was at the stage of preparing the Cyprus report.
Talat arrived in Turkey completing his visits in the United States.
Speaking at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Talat stressed that Annan's report was very important, and noted that, ''in a sense this draws the fate of Turkish Cypriots. The views and advises he would emphasize in the report will have a determining effect on world's Cyprus policy in the coming years.''
Talat said in case the report states that the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey favored solution, this would bring very big advantages in the future.
''It was very important that this report should be objective and accurate. We have conveyed the Secretary General that we relied on him in this respect to prepare an accurate and objective report. He listened to our views and asked our ideas regarding how Cyprus question would be discussed. He stated that Security Council could convene to discuss the issue in open discussion giving right to Turkish Cypriots to speak.''
Talat said he met with officials of U.S. State Department and White House as well as officials of World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Talat said during his meetings, it was stated that steps would be taken soon to lift the isolation policy imposed on Turkish Cypriots.
Stressing that promises and assurances were given to him in this respect, Talat said efforts were exerted in the European Union (EU) for use of Turkish ports for exports.
Talat said his visit to the United States was beneficial.
Talat said it was particularly important that this was the first time the U.S. Secretary of State met with a Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister.
When asked what kind of signs he got in the United States for lifting of isolation, Talat said, ''firstly, we wanted direct flights to TRNC. This is a necessary condition for improvement of tourism and economy. Besides, travels, trade and foreign investments are very important for us. We put forth all of them. They will decide which of them could be fulfilled with a political decision and which of them could be fulfilled with legal regulations. They gave assurances that they will take definite, determined and accurate steps.''
Talat said they put forth logical and reasonable requests, stating that, ''we said we are not separatists and we did not lose our vision for solution. Turkish Cypriots fulfilled their duties. Secondly, this is the way to convince Greece Cypriots to solution.''
Talat said, ''we think that our line targeting solution will be supported by the world.''
(AY) 08.05.2004