Northern Cyprus P.M. Says Greek Cypriot Administration Doesn't Assume A Good-willed Attitude

LEFKOSA - The Greek Cypriot administration did not assume a good-willed attitude towards the Turkish Cypriots, Mehmet Ali Talat, Prime Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said on Saturday.
Talat, who received members of Public Vehicles Enterprises Union (Kar-Is), said, ''if they think that Turkish Cypriots can feel obliged to sign an agreement by force, they are wrong. Turkish Cypriots have already demonstrated that they favor an agreement.''
The group said that they were facing some problems when crossing into the south of the island, and the Greek Cypriot administration was putting forth some conditions before them. They asked Talat to solve their problems.
Kar-Is delegation asked Talat to put the same conditions laid by the Greek Cypriot administration before commercial vehicles coming from TRNC, in front of the Greek Cypriot vehicles, or to stop passages of Greek Cypriot commercial vehicles to TRNC for a temporary period of time.
Talat said that the Greek Cypriot administration did not assume a good-willed attitude towards the Turkish Cypriots in any area, and noted, ''their proposals for changes to Green Line Regulation, and the regulations on passage of commercial vehicles to their territory don't reflect good will.''
The Greek Cypriots proposed some changes in favor of Turkish Cypriots to the European Commission, Talat stated.
Talat said, ''they seem that they are in our favor. But, their real intention is to prevent trade directly.''
Direct trade was a vital matter for TRNC, Talat stressed.
Talat underlined that direct trade or direct flights to TRNC would not harm the Greek Cypriot side.
The Greek Cypriots were claiming that ''direct trade and direct flights to TRNC would mean indirect recognition'', but they had nothing to do with recognition, Talat said. He noted that they only showed good will.
Talat said, ''if the Greek Cypriot government is really good-willed, it should consent to use of our ports and airport. It should tell this to the European Union. If they think that Turkish Cypriots can feel obliged to sign an agreement by force, they are wrong. Turkish Cypriots have already demonstrated that they favor an agreement. Who should prove itself is the Greek Cypriot side, not Turkish Cypriots.''
TRNC PM Talat asked the group to complain about these developments to the European Union and to make the world learn about lack of good will of the Greek Cypriots.
Talat added that his government would take necessary measures related with the complaints of the Kar-Is delegation.
(BRC) 28.08.2004