Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer speaking during the Parliament’s General Assembly yesterday (12 December) evaluated the recent developments regarding the Cyprus issue.

Prime Minister Soyer stated that the win-win principle within the European Union had turned to lose-lose principle as a result of the Greek Cypriot side’s domineering attitude whose membership to the Block realized without a solution in the island.

Stressing that the EU has lost its image of solving the problems democratically, Soyer said: "the EU has some problems in terms of image, problem solving and democratic unity" and added that these problems were overshadowing the EU’s image.

Soyer referring to the outcome of the EU Foreign Ministers Meeting pointed out that this outcome was not a gaining for any party.

Soyer explaining that while the Greek Cypriot administration was engaging in initiatives before China, France and Russia with the aim of shifting the Cyprus issue outside the UN framework, Turkish Cypriots should continue to work for the solution of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcı, speaking during the General Assembly of the Parliament yesterday, stated that the Cyprus issue was occupying the agenda of the world and the EU said the Turkish Cypriots had respectfully welcomed and supported Turkey’s determination towards the lifting of Turkish Cypriots’ isolation.

Stressing that Turkey and the TRNC governments would continue to act in harmony in the foreign policy, Avcı reiterated the unfairness of the isolations and said that the isolations would not last forever.

Criticizing the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigent policies, Foreign Minister Avcı said: “the Greek Cypriot administration would be astonished in face of our openings to be made in the forthcoming days.”

Stating that the first sign towards the lifting of the isolations would be the start of the direct flights to Ercan Airport, said that the Turkish Cypriots should act in unity and cooperation in these critical days.

The Presidency has announced that, they condemn the fact that the demands of the Greek Cypriot side are being laid as a condition before Turkey.

At the weekly press conference, Presidential Spokesman Hasan Erçakıca stated that the sanctions, whether few or many, imposed on Turkey, who has no responsibility over the stalemate in Cyprus, and slowing down of its EU membership negotiations have been evaluated as a negative development by the Presidency.

Saying "We are condemning the fact that the demands of the Greek Cypriot side are being laid as a condition before Turkey", Spokesman Erçakıca added that such an approach will not contribute to the settlement of the issues, increase of the opportunities for cooperation and sustenance of stability in the region at all.

Presidential Spokesman Hasan Erçakıca underlined that, despite all the objections by the Greek Cypriot side, the Foreign Ministers of the EU have expressed their support for the resumption of the negotiations between the two sides so as to reach a full and lasting settlement to the Cyprus Issue under the umbrella of the UN and in accordance with its parameters.

Spokesman Erçakıca pointed out that their call indicating the UN as the ground for the settlement of the Cyprus Issue has always been ignored by the Greek Cypriot side.

Saying "It is satisfactory for us that the importance of reaching a settlement to the Cyprus Issue under the supervision of the UN is also accepted by the EU member states", Spokesman Erçakıca reminded that the Greek Cypriot side had spent efforts to prevent the sentences referring to the UN process from being included in the decision of the Council.

Spokesman Erçakıca stressed that the Greek Cypriot side employing this position has once again established the way it regards the process and the fact that it is doing its best to avoid strengthening or promoting the said process.

Indicating that this issue must definitely be taken into consideration during the monitoring of the works that will soon be carried out under the umbrella of the UN, Spokesman Erçakıca said “It will not be easy for the Greek Cypriot side, who sees the UN process as “an undesired method”, to efficiently participate in the said process."

Spokesman Erçakıca said that it was also significant that the issue concerning the lifting of isolations imposed on Turkish Cypriots is being intensely discussed at the highest level within the EU.

Stating that the Foreign Ministers of the EU member countries have reiterated their decisiveness towards the lifting of the isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriots Spokesman Erçakıca said “It has been announced that efforts will be spent to lift the isolations ‘without delay’ in January 2007. All these developments indicate that the Cyprus Issue is not only poisoning the relations in the region but also has a quite negative role within the EU."