Upon instructions from my Government, I have the honour to refer to the letter dated 19 August 2005, addressed to you by the Greek Cypriot Representative and circulated as a document of the General Assembly and of the Security Council on 23 August 2005 (A/59/899-S/2005/537) which contains distortions and misinformation regarding the intentions of the Turkish Cypriot leadership.

Citing the misquoted extracts from the text of an interview given by President Mehmet Ali Talat to the Turkish Weekly, the New Anatolian, published on 8 August 2005, the Greek Cypriot representative makes a baseless claim that President Talat’s main preoccupation is the recognition of the TRNC rather than a negotiated settlement on the island.

The futility of this claim becomes evident when considered against the mountain of evidence to the contrary. President Talat’s unequivocal support for the Annan Plan in the run up to the referenda is in line with his decades-old vision for settlement in the island. In fact, Your Excellency has attested to this reality in your mission of good offices report of 28 May 2004, as follows: "...I wish to record, however, my appreciation of the efforts of Mr. Talat both in the process and in the run-up to the referendum".

The Greek Cypriot representative exploits this aforementioned misquotation to portray our efforts to end the inhuman isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people as a temporary objective on the road toward full recognition. In line with the letter and spirit of your mission of good offices report (S/2004/437) dated 28 May 2004, as well the declaration of the EU Council of Ministers dated 26 April 2004, we have always stated that ending the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people is not an end in itself nor a substitute to a negotiated settlement in the island, but a necessary step that would facilitate the reunification in showing to the Greek Cypriot side that its policy of total strangulation of the Turkish Cypriot people is bound to fail and thus it should return to the negotiation table with the right frame of mind for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

The Greek Cypriot recount of the talks between the two sides in Brussels in June 2005 on the two draft regulations of the EU Commission on Northern Cyprus, namely the financial aid and direct trade regulations, is also misleading. As you are well aware, the Greek Cypriot leadership continues to block the adoption by the EU Council of these two regulations. The uncompromising position assumed by the Greek Cypriot leadership in the deliberations of EU has so far rendered EU efforts unsuccessful. Still, it was important as it revealed, once again, that under no circumstances the Greek Cypriot leadership will consent to the lifting of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people as it constitutes one of the cornerstones of its policies in Cyprus.

The attempt made in the letter to justify the continuation of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people by invoking the UN Security Council resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984) is irrelevant. The interpretation of these resolutions as such, particularly in the light of the expressed will of the Turkish Cypriot people for the unification of island in the 24 April 2004 referendum, is to say the least, peculiar. In this context, I would like to refer to your mission of good offices report (S/2004/437) dated 28 May 2004, in which you stated and I quote: "I would hope they (members of the Security Council) can give a strong lead to all states to cooperate both bilaterally and in international bodies to eliminate unnecessary restrictions and barriers that have the effect of isolating the Turkish Cypriots and impeding their development deeming such a move as consistent with Security Council resolutions 541 (1983) and 550(1984)".

Regarding the Greek Cypriot representative’s remarks pertaining to a political settlement in Cyprus, I would like to refer, once again, to the same report, in which you stated and I quote: "what was rejected (by the Greek Cypriots) was the solution itself rather than a mere blueprint... ...if the Greek Cypriots are ready to share power and responsibility with the Turkish Cypriots in a federal structure based on political equality, this needs to be demonstrated, not just by words, but by action" and "if they (Greek Cypriots) remain willing to resolve the Cyprus problem through a bicommunal, bizonal federation, this needs to be demonstrated. Lingering Greek Cypriot concerns about security and implementation of the plan need to be articulated with clarity and finally". Despite this call being reiterated by Your Excellency on various occasions, it has not yet been properly responded by the Greek Cypriot leadership. The failure and the unwillingness of the Greek Cypriot side to do so clearly demonstrate that it is not, and has never been, interested in a mutually acceptable settlement, despite continuously for professing to the contrary.

Turkish Cypriot people are for a new partnership in Cyprus as unequivocally reflected in the results of the referenda held in the island last year. Bizonality, political equality and the continuation of the 1960 system of guarantees are essential ingredients of a viable and lasting settlement. In order to have a realistic chance of achieving this goal, the Turkish Cypriot side must have a negotiating partner who is willing and able to negotiate for a new partnership free of the devious tactics employed hitherto. As a first step, the Greek Cypriot side, without further delay, should heed to Your Excellency’s call and pronounce itself with "clarity and finality" on the questions put to it by Your Excellency.

I should be grateful if the text of the present letter could be circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 19, and of the Security Council.