ANKARA - Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) were reviewing political and legal steps to be taken to end isolation of TRNC, TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said on Wednesday.
Talat met with Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Baki Ilkin.
Following his meetings, Talat told reporters that Turkey and TRNC held regular consultations on developments in Cyprus and said that his visit to Turkey served the same goal.
Talat said that Turkish Cypriot side voted ''yes'' and the Greek Cypriot side voted ''no'' to the 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 despite all expectations.
The international community had been prepared for an opposite result, Talat noted.
Therefore, Talat said, the international community needed time to evaluate the recent situation.
Talat stated, ''we are now experiencing this process. We are planning necessary political and legal steps to end our isolation.''
TRNC was waiting for the report to be presented to the UN Security Council and the possible resolution to be taken afterwards, Talat pointed out.
Talat said that TRNC intended to launch a political attack in line with that resolution.
There was not any difference of opinion between Turkey and TRNC, Talat stated.
Talat expressed belief that they would gain positive results thanks to their policies.
Asked if TRNC and the Greek Cypriot side had launched initiatives to open representations in each other's territories, Talat said that such an initiative had not been discussed yet.
When he was recalled about statement that the resolution on representation of Turkish Cypriot municipalities in the Council of Europe (COE) local and regional administrations general assembly was obstructed as Turkish delegation abstained from voting, Talat said that three people from Cyprus, including two from Greek Cypriot side and one from TRNC, became representatives in the end.
Talat stated that Turkish Cypriot delegate would represent himself in the general assembly under the umbrella of ''Cyprus Republic.''
''It is not possible for us to accept it because in such a case, all our efforts will be in vain. We will cause an impression as if the Greek Cypriot side is representing entire Cyprus. And, it is not possible for us to accept it,'' Talat said.
(BRC) 26.05.2004