TALAT: ‘THE REASON OF DEADLOCK IS CHRISTOFIAS’

President Mehmet Ali Talat said that he was disappointed by Christofias because he is the reason of deadlock in Cyprus.

Stating that Annan Plan failed with ‘no’ votes of Greek Cypriot party AKEL, Talat stressed that Papodopuos is not responsible for the deadlock. In 2008, Talat believed in a solution but at that time, Christofias was not ready for a solution.
Moreover, Talat said that at that time, they postponed the solution to 2009 but Christofias delayed it and never accepted the proposals of the Turkish Cypriot side.

DP LEADER DENKTAS REACTED TO CRITICISM TOWARDS EROGLU

DP Leader Serdar Denktas said that he was shocked by criticism of some people towards the President Dervis Eroglu ‘Eroglu fuels the deadlock’. In his written statement, Denktas noticed that recently, these expressions have been increased by people who met with UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor for Cyprus, Alexander Downer.

’It is not first that some people ignore Greek Cypriot side’s main policy which aims to make the island a Greek island and they blame our Turkish Cypriot representatives for ‘supporting a deadlock’ Denktas added.

People who blames Eroglu for the deadlock and say that the former President Mehmet Ali Talat could solve Cyprus problem should express on which issues Talat could make concessions and solve Cyprus problem.

Moreover, Denktas said ‘we will not give the right to anybody to continue the deadlock in the island. That’s why, it is necessary to make a referenda in June and ask our people whether to continue the negotiations on the base of current situation or not. Everybody should respect for the result of the referenda. I call people who blame Eroglu to have a good sense’.

LEADERS WILL MEET TODAY

President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Dervis Eroglu and Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofis will meet again today to continue discussions on the property issue.

The meeting will start at 10:00 hours local time at UN controlled area in Nicosia, at the official residence of UNSG Special Representative Lisa Buttenheim.

Besides the conundrum of property issue which was one of the unsolved issues on the table, the leaders will also draw up the meeting program for March.

Alexander Downer, UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Cyprus, will be producing a progress report at the end of March before the Secretary General’s report to UN Security Council on the process. The Secretary General and the Turkish Cypriot side had repeatedly stated that the talks should be finalized before the Greek Cypriot side takes over the EU term Presidency due on July 1st.

HASÄ°POÄžLU CRITICIZES DOWNER

Secretary General of National Union Party (UBP) Ertuğrul Hasipoğlu stated that UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor to Cyprus Alexander Downer tries to provoke a group in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for the purpose of convincing president Eroglu to give concessions and added that this is an attitude which is unacceptable.

Hasipoğlu made a written statement yesterday and replied the claims of leader of Republican Turkish Party (CTP) as “the negotiations have collapsed due to the attitude of Turkish Cypriot side”.

Hasipoğlu said “We, as the National Union Party, continue to follow the developments on Cyprus on behalf of our people” and drew attention that despite of generous attitude of TRNC former President Mehmet Ali Talat, an agreement had not been reached with the Greek Cypriots on those days that CTP was in power.

Ertuğrul Hasipoğlu reminded the statement of Talat as “if it could be possible Greek Cypriots will prevent us from breathing”, and said “That being the case, for the sake of political interest Yorgancıoğlu’s accusing President Eroğlu conflicts with interests of our people. We, as UBP, approve and support the way followed by President Eroğlu”.

Hasipoğlu expressed that wrong steps have been taken by TRNC former President Talat and CTP not by TRNC President Eroğlu. Hasipoğlu said “Cross voting is unacceptable. Cross voting is contrary to the fact of two peoples, two sovereignties and two separate elections. There is term presidency in European Union also, but cross voting is not in question”.

Ertuğrul Hasipoğlu added that despite of constructive proposals of President Eroğlu Greek Cypriot side tries to gain everything without giving anything and said “however CTP supports Christofias who cheats and decodes it”.

Hasipoğlu said “CTP should not forget that there is not a secure future for Turkish Cypriot side other than taking place in the world with its own sovereignty, state, and economy.”

‘GERMAN PERSPECTIVE ON EURO CRISIS’ SEMINAR HELD IN EMU

Financial and Commercial Advisor of the German Federal Republic Embassy to South Cyprus Uwe Wixforth stated his belief in the ‘German Perspective on EURO Crisis’ seminar which held in Eastern Mediterranean University as ‘EURO will rise from its ashes’.

On the other hand Financial and Commercial Advisor of the German Federal Republic Embassy to South Cyprus Uwe Wixforth stated in the seminar which Ambassador of German Federal Republic Embassy to South Cyprus also attended that the crises must be evaluated as the debit crises not the EURO crises.

INCREASE IN TOURISM AND NUMBER OF STUDENTS

TRNC Minister of Finance made a statement and said that TRNC Government took some measures in the past 2.5 years and made productive agreements with Turkey and as a result of these initiatives TRNC has reached to more than 2.5 million overnight stay in tourism and more then 47 thousand students in the universities. Minister Tatar underlined that they are expecting 4.5 increases in the economic growth for 2012 and added that although the salaries did not increase income increased 20%.

Minister Tatar pointed out that 100 million Turkish Liras saved in 2011 and said that although there are some problems in the Electricity Administration and Municipalities, those problems are just because of structural errors and their aim is to support progress of the private sector.

FRANZISKA KELLER: “IF YOU CANNOT SETTLE YOUR OWN ISSUES HOW CAN YOU HELP IN SETTLING THE EU ISSUE?”

European Parliament High-Level Contact Group for Relations with the Turkish Cypriot Community member Franziska Keller said “the Greek Cypriot administration will be subjected to criticisms if they take over the EU Term Presidency before the Cyprus issue is solved, and said ‘If you cannot settle your own issues how can you help in settling the issues of the EU?’

German Member of the Greens, Keller at a press conference at the European Parliament said: “the Greek Cypriots constantly say that ‘EU has no relation with the Cyprus issue but if they take over the Term Presidency before reaching a settlement, Cyprus issue will become an issue of the EU. At the high level meetings of the EU, member states will criticize them as they were putting the EU in a difficult situation. I hope that they will put pressure on the Greek Cypriots this way.”

Keller recommended Turkey to make a stronger call for United Cyprus to take the EU term-presidency rather than announcing that it will stop all the relations with the EU at the Greek Cypriots’ term presidency period.