Talat: Declaration Of Turkish Cypriot State Will Mean Playing With Fire

LEFKOSA - Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Monday, ``the European Union (EU) is opposed to the declaration of a `Turkish Cypriot State` which was envisaged in United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan`s plan. Therefore, declaration of Turkish Cypriot State will mean playing with fire.``
Speaking at the TRNC Parliament, Prime Minister Talat said, ``the EU is opposed to declaration of `Turkish Cypriot State` since it means a request for recognition. They also are opposed to put a plate on which it will be inscribed `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus` in front of TRNC delegation which will participate to the OIC-EU summit. Therefore, there have been some efforts to cancel the summit of the EU and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) scheduled to be held in Istanbul in October. At such a moment, declaration of Turkish Cypriot State will mean playing with fire. Such a declaration will hamper our efforts to get rid of isolations.``
(UK-ULG) 20.09.2004