PRESIDENT TALAT: “WE WANT TO RESUME THE NEGOTIATIONS AND TRANSFER THE PROCESS TO THE NEW UN SECRETARY GENERAL”

President Mehmet Ali Talat who is currently in Turkey to carry out a series of contacts after appearing on a TV Program on CNN Turk in Istanbul yesterday morning (27 August), today went to Ankara to meet with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and attend Turkish General Staff Commanders Handover Ceremony.

Speaking during the program on CNN Turk, President Mehmet Ali Talat once again denied the allegations to the effect that some ports in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus would be given to UN control. President Talat said that the ports of a functional state could not be transferred to the control of the UN.

Pointing out the Turkish Cypriot side did not support this idea President Talat said: “we possess a state mechanism which can carry out all its functions. There is not a situation of war or terrorism to require a call for the UN to take up its duties. The UN does not in anyway have such duty.”

President Mehmet Ali Talat noting that the EU was also occasionally putting various proposals on the table said that these proposals were only aimed at dealing with day-to-day problems rather than finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem. “Because the EU which included South Cyprus and Greece as full members is biased. The UN, which is impartial should take on an active role on the Cyprus issue”, President Talat added.

Referring to the statements to the effect that France would establish a military base in South Cyprus, President Talat said according to the information he received from French Ambassador to Cyprus such thing was out of question and that France only requested a treaty of Defence and Cooperation with South Cyprus within the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy.

Continuing, President Talat explained that French Ambassador to Cyprus stated that it was objectionable for France to make such cooperation with South Cyprus and its illegal National Guard, which is out of the European Security and Defence Policy and added that he had sent a letter to the French President Jacques Chirac regarding his views on this issue.

President stressed that the Turkish Cypriot side was working hard in order to find a solution to the Cyprus problem before the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s end of duty.

Underlining that he did not believe the UN would change its position on the Cyprus issue, President Talat said: “The new Secretary-General will initially have to learn the Cyprus problem, then deal with it and decide on it...If we pass the period of Annan that means 1-1.5 year more. We don’t want this. We are working to take a step during the period of Annan and resume the talks and then transfer it to the new UN Secretary-General.”