LEFKOSA - Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said, ''the Turkish Cypriot side has fulfilled its duties. Now, the international community should fulfil its promises to lift isolation and embargoes against Turkish Cypriot people.''
Prime Minister Talat received Turkish Land Forces Commander General Aytac Yalman and the accompanying delegation on Wednesday.
Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Talat said, ''the whole world has clearly realized that the Turkish Cypriot side was not responsible for insolubility in the island. The Turkish Cypriot side has fulfilled its duties. Despite some problems, the Turkish Cypriot side has taken the necessary steps day by day, determined a joint policy in co-operation, and progressed the process to the current stage. Now, the international community should fulfil its promises to lift isolation and embargoes against Turkish Cypriot people.''
''The Cyprus issue will no longer be an obstacle in front of Turkey. Now, the international isolation against Turkish Cypriots should be lifted. Our being in favor of solution, peace and reunification of Cyprus, and the Greek Cypriots side's efforts to prevent solution should be well-understood by the international community in regard to modern values of the world,'' Talat added.
Meanwhile, General Yalman reiterated that the Turkish Armed Forces would continue supporting Turkish Cypriot people.
''I want to stress that an agreement on the basis of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan would not be realistic. The ensuing process will be different than the previous process. Turkish Cypriot people have fulfilled their responsibilities. Now, we expect the international community to fulfil its promises to lift embargoes imposed on TRNC,'' he added.
(UK-AÖ) 12.05.2004