PARIS - Mehmet Ali Talat, the Prime Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said on Thursday that if economy developed, solution of Cyprus issue would be easier.
After his meeting with French Minister Delegate for European Affairs Claudie Haignere, Talat told reporters that political and economic isolation of Turkish Cypriots should be ended.
Talat said that his meeting with the French minister was very positive and fruitful, and expressed belief that ''Paris, a United Nations (UN) Security Council member, would extend necessary support to end isolation of TRNC.''
TRNC PM Talat said that he asked France's support for adoption of regulations prepared by the European Union (EU) Commission on financial and trade issues.
Talat stated that TRNC's current priority was not official recognition, and said, ''we currently expect that our political and economic isolation will be ended till a solution is reached. Turkish Cypriots, who said yes in the referenda, can't be shown as the party which doesn't want solution. It isn't fair to punish Turkish Cypriots who said yes to a solution.''
TRNC wanted to make free trade with the EU, Talat said and called on EU member countries to start nonstop flights to TRNC.
Talat said that foreign tourists did not want to come to TRNC since there were not direct flights and since flights were very long and expensive.
TRNC PM Talat said, ''we want to comply technical and administrative structure of our economy with the EU standards.''
Talat stated that all the world had changed its perspective on TRNC after April 24th simultaneous referenda, and noted that TRNC would continue to work for a solution.
Answering a question on Turkish soldiers and immigrants in TRNC, Talat referred to arrangements on those issues in the UN plan, and said that the Greek Cypriots prevented decrease in number of Turkish soldiers and immigrants, saying 'no' to the plan.
Talat said that it was not a humane behavior to ask people living in the island for 30 years to leave the island, and defined it as ''a racist attitude against European values.''
Answering a question if the EU wouldn't start full membership negotiations with Turkey, Talat said, ''I don't even want to think of such a choice. If EU decides not to open negotiations with Turkey, it will have a negative effect on solution of the Cyprus issue.''
(BRC) 22.07.2004