LEFKOSA - British High Commissioner in the Greek Cypriot side Lyn Parker visited Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Ministry for the first time on Tuesday and met with Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat.
Prior to the meeting, Parker said that ''Talat was a person who showed a real vision and leadership to the society.''
Parker noted that the British government shared the disappointment of many Turkish Cypriots over not joining the European Union (EU) on May 1 as a united Cyprus.
They respected to the results of simultaneous referenda held in Cyprus on April 24, Parker said.
Parker stated that they welcomed positive votes of majority of Turkish Cypriots to United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.
That result showed how big the change of attitude in Turkish Cypriot society was, Parker pointed out.
Parker said that the British government could understand the wish of the Turkish Cypriots to become an EU member in a united Cyprus together with the Greek Cypriots.
It would continue to be the aim of the United Kingdom, Parker stated.
Parker said that the United Kingdom would continue its efforts to achieve that goal.
They would work together with Turkish Cypriots to end their isolation, ensure their economic development and to bring them closer to the EU, Parker stated.
Parker underlined that the United Kingdom had made a strong commitment about that issue like its other EU partners.
Talat, in his part, said that TRNC appreciated efforts of countries to end isolation of Turkish Cypriots.
Turkish Cypriots had given a big struggle for the last three years and achieved to change the political structure in the north of the island, Talat noted.
Talat said that Turkish Cypriots supported a plan prepared by UN Secretary General and supported by the EU, United States and Britain.
Turkish Cypriots had fulfilled all their commitments in that process, Talat stated.
Talat said that Turkish Cypriots regretted that any solution was not reached at the end of separate simultaneous referenda held in the island.
Turkish Cypriots expected international community to support and appreciate their stance, Talat stated.
Talat pointed out that Turkish Cypriots wanted the support of international community to end their isolation, integrate with the world and economically strengthen.
Turkish Cypriots had expressed their wish to become an EU member in a united island formed together with the Greek Cypriots, Talat said.
Talat stated that Turkish Cypriots had never lost their vision for a solution.
''Turkish Cypriots want to end this problem and become an EU member. Turkish Cypriots will continue their struggle for a solution but, of course, they expect the international community to end their isolation,'' Talat said.
Talat noted that TRNC expected support of the international community to its economic development and adjustment with the EU.
Thanking Parker for visiting TRNC Prime Ministry, Talat said that this was the first time that a British high commissioner was visiting TRNC Prime Ministry.
Talat defined Parker's visit as a great development and thanked for the visit.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Sir Kieran Prendergast and UN Secretary General Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto had earlier visited Talat at TRNC Prime Ministry.
In the past, such meetings were taking place in the headquarters of the political parties of the prime ministers.
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-AÖ) 11.05.2004