LEFKOSA - Ercan Airport in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which has been renovated in line with international standards and the capacity of which has been increased with Turkey's assistance, was re-opened to transportation on Monday after it was closed for about two years.
TRNC President Rauf Denktas, TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener and Turkish Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim attended the opening ceremony.
Speaking in the ceremony, Sener said that Ercan Airport was one of projects which would pave the way for TRNC.
Sener noted that Turkey expected the international community to keep the promises it made to Turkish Cypriot people before the separate simultaneous referenda held in Cyprus on April 24.
Turkey wanted embargoes imposed on Turkish Cypriots to be lifted and international airline companies to start flights to Ercan Airport, Sener stated.
Sener said that direct flights to Ercan Airport would accelerate tourism of TRNC, which was a locomotive sector for TRNC economy.
It was the Greek Cypriots who were in fact responsible for the Cyprus issue, Sener pointed out.
Sener said that international community should make a new evaluation about the situation which had occurred after the Greek Cypriots rejected United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in the simultaneous referenda held in the island on April 24.
TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said that Ercan Airport was ready for international flights, adding that TRNC expected and asked international airline companies to start direct flights to Ercan Airport.
UNJUST EMBARGOES ON TURKISH CYPRIOTS SHOULD BE LIFTED
Unjust embargoes imposed on Turkish Cypriot people should be lifted after separate simultaneous referenda held in Cyprus on April 24, Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said on Monday.
Speaking in the ceremony, Sener said that international community should make a new evaluation about the situation which had occurred after the Greek Cypriots rejected United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in the simultaneous referenda held in the island on April 24.
Sener said, ''unjust embargoes imposed on Turkish Cypriot people should be lifted after this process and the first of steps to lift the embargoes should be starting direct flights to Ercan Airport.''
Turkey expected international community to keep the promises it had made before the simultaneous referenda held in the island, Sener stated.
Sener said that Turkish government would continue to be determined to make international community keep its promises.
When 65 percent of Turkish Cypriot people said ''yes'' to Annan plan in the simultaneous referenda held in the island on April 24, they showed a big self-sacrifice and determination to solve the Cyprus issue, Sener stated.
On the other hand, Sener said, the Greek Cypriot side rejected the plan and showed that it was not in favor of searches for a settlement in the island.
Sener pointed out that international community clearly saw that which side wanted solution in Cyprus after the separate simultaneous referenda.
''International community can no more ignore wish and determination of 200 thousand Turkish Cypriot people to open to foreign world and to integrate with international economy. It cannot impose the burden of uncompromising attitude of the Greek Cypriot side, which is the real creator of the Cyprus issue, on any other side than the side which has caused the disagreement,'' Sener said.
Sener went on saying, ''unjust embargoes imposed on Turkish Cypriot people should be lifted after this process and the first of steps to lift the embargoes should be starting direct flights to Ercan Airport. We expected international community to keep its promises. We expect them to treat TRNC and Turkish Cypriot people the way they deserve.''
''Our government is determined to make international community keep its promises to TRNC and to end inhuman isolation of Turkish Cypriots. And, it will continue to be so,'' Sener said.
INTERNATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC TO TRNC SHOULD START FROM NOW ON
Speaking at the ceremony, Yildirim said that Ercan Airport, built by Turkey's contributions after the Cyprus Peace Operation, had been renovated in line with international air traffic principles.
Yildirim noted that after the simultaneous referenda held in Cyprus on April 24, it had been proved that it was the Greek Cypriot side which was in fact the uncompromising side.
Turkey had launched initiatives to start direct flights to TRNC after the referenda, Yildirim stated.
Yildirim added that technical preparations continued rapidly in coordination with Turkish Foreign Ministry.
ERCAN AIRPORT WILL BE THEIR PLACE OF CONNECTION WITH WORLD
Speaking at the ceremony, Talat said that the airport equipped with European Union (EU) standards was ready for direct flights.
Talat noted that TRNC expected direct international flights to Ercan airport.
Diplomatic initiatives had not ended yet, Talat said.
Talat asked the world to revise its point of view towards Cyprus and stressed that Turkish Cypriot people should no more be exposed to inhuman isolation.
Turkish Cypriots had determinedly complied with the road map for solution of Cyprus issue, Talat stated.
Talat noted that despite strong ''yes'' votes of Turkish Cypriot people to United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, the Greek Cypriots said ''no'' to the plan.
It had been seen that the Greek Cypriots did not have the right to say anything on behalf of the Turkish Cypriots and TRNC, Talat said.
Talat pointed out that Turkish Cypriots had proved that it had the capacity to administer itself.
The world should revise its point of view towards Cyprus, evaluating all those realities, Talat said.
Talat noted that peaceful Turkish Cypriot people had proved that they could fulfil its obligations and therefore, Turkish Cypriots, who had showed that they were ready to integrate with the world, should not be face to face with an inhuman treatment like isolation from now on.
The UN, the world, all countries and international organizations should consider the Cyprus issue from that point of view, Talat said.
Stating that direct flights to TRNC would accelerate Turkish Cypriot economy, Talat said that it would decrease tourism costs and shorten transportation time.
TRNC and Greek Cypriot side voted UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in simultaneous referenda held on April 24.
Sixty-five percent of Turkish Cypriots voted ''yes'' to the Annan plan while 35.09 percent voted against the plan in the simultaneous referenda. A total of 75.83 percent of the Greek Cypriots said ''no'' to the plan while 24.17 of them voted ''yes.''
The rate of participation in the referendum was 84.35 in TRNC and 96.53 percent in the Greek Cypriot side.
(BRC) 10.05.2004