LEFKOSA (AA) - ''Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos asks Turkey to sign Ankara protocol on free movement of people and property. However, he does not want the same thing to happen in Cyprus,'' said Ed Whitfield, the co-chairman of the Turkish Friendship Group at the U.S. House of Representatives.
Holding a joint news conference with President Mehmet Ali Talat of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Monday, Whitfield said that they directly arrived in northern Cyprus because they approve free movement of people and property in the whole Cyprus.
Whitfield called Papadopoulos to stop objecting the financial assistance which the EU plans to provide for northern Cyprus.
He also stressed that their visit to TRNC is not illegal, noting that they discussed the issue in detail with the lawyers of US State Department. The lawyers ensured them that their visit directly from the north was not illegal at all, he noted.
Whitfield said that after Talat was elected as President of TRNC, he extended his hand to Papadopoulos for peace and he will not pull back his hand until Papadopoulos will hold it. ''Talat believes his hand will be shaken one day.''
We arrived in Cyprus to convince Papadopoulos to take steps to re-unite the island as a bizonal and bicommunal federation, said Whitfield, underlining that instead they clearly understood that Papadopoulos does not approve their visits to northern Cyprus.
Noting that Papadopoulos demanded Turkish government to sign Ankara protocol which envisages free movement of people and property between two sides, Whitfield said however, it is clearly seen that he does not approve free movement of people and property in the northern Cyprus. ''We arrived in northern Cyprus because we approve free movement of people and property both in northern and southern Cyprus. We recommend Papadopoulos to give up his objections against financial assistance of the EU worth of 259 million Euro to northern Cyprus, and also to approve inclusion of northern Cyprus in free movement of people and property.''
Whitfield underlined that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan recommended all states to establish relations with northern Cyprus both bilaterally and through international organizations to eliminate ''unnecessary'' isolations over northern Cyprus. ''This initiative is in conformity with UN resolutions No. 541 and 550.''
Urging the leaders in Cyprus to ''leave the past aside'', he said they expect leaders of sides in island to focus on economic developments, create business opportunities and develop health and education for all Cypriots.
When a reporter asked, ''are you aware that you entered the island from an illegal port according to Papadopoulos? Did you demand a meeting with Papadopoulos? What has the United States done for Turkish Cypriots so far who have suffered from isolations for 50 years?'' Whitfield said, they demanded meetings with Papadopoulos and Greek Cypriot officials, but Greek Cypriots rejected their demand when they learned the delegation would arrive in the island directly from north.
''We do not agree with the claim that we entered from an illegal port. EU parliamentarians and even Greek Cypriots fly from the northern Cyprus. We do not act illegally,'' he added.
He said, ''U.S. government has an economic development program worth of 30,5 million USD for Turkish Cypriots. We also held diplomatic meetings in the EU and recommended EU officials to provide technical support in economic issues.''
Noting that their visit could be seen as a symbolic good will gesture, but such acts could be very important sometimes, Whitfield said they had promised to help Turkish Cypriots.
2005-05-30