President
Mehmet Ali Talat evaluated the recent developments regarding Turkey-EU
negotiation process and
Cyprus
to the Cyprus Turkish News Agency (TAK).
President
Talat stated that the European Union by setting the demands of the Greek
Cypriot side as preconditions for Turkey’s EU membership has punished
Turkey. The President said that the EU Foreign Ministers’ made a reference
to the lifting of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people “to settle
the Turkish side’s anger”. He added that it was not yet certain how the
Direct Trade Regulation would be shaped.
Stressing that the Cyprus issue is standing as an obstacle in
the way of Turkey’s EU membership process the President reiterated the
determination of both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side towards a
solution in Cyprus. President Talat pointed out that the policy being
carried out on the lifting of the isolations and the comprehensive
settlement was the right policy according to the current situation.
Referring
to the EU Foreign Ministers’ decision to freeze 8 Chapters of negotiations
with Turkey, and to take up the issues of Direct Trade Regulation and the
isolations in January 2007, the President said he was no pleased with the
decision.
Complaining that the Greek Cypriot side’s demands were laid as
preconditions for Turkey’s EU membership, President Talat said while 8
chapters would be suspended the continuation of the discussions on other
chapters would depend on Turkey’s fulfillment of its obligations towards
the EU. “This is a punishment. Turkey will be punished until it fulfills
the Greek Cypriot side’s demands”, said the President.
Pointing
out that the EU’s attitude had made it even harder to bring about a
solution to the Cyprus problem, the President said this would increase the
intransigence of the Greek Cypriot side as it saw that it could impose its
demands both on Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side.
Stating
that the EU Foreign Ministers’ reference to the lifting of the
international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot side and the Direct Trade
Regulation in their decision was a positive development, President Talat
said however that the inclusion of an expression, which referred to the
TRNC as a territory out of the control of the ‘Republic of Cyprus’ was
degrading for the Turkish Cypriot people.
Explaining that Turkey’s
recent proposal regarding the opening of one of its air and seaports in
return of the opening of a seaport in North Cyprus to international
traffic and Ercan Airport to direct flights was part of the action plan
which was supported by all parties, the President reiterated the Turkish
Cypriot side’s support to this proposal.
Pointing
out that the reciprocal opening of the ports under certain conditions were
in line with the lifting of the isolations, Talat responding to a
question, said that the application made by the TRNC to the UK for the
start of the direct flights was not related to the said proposal.
Adding that if the UK
responded positively to the TRNC’s application, Turkey’s proposal to open
one of its ports in return of the opening of Ercan Airport to direct
flights would be partly materialized, President Talat stressed that the
application to the UK had been made after taking the advice of the famous
law firms and preparing a legal ground. “According to the legal advice
given, there is no legal obstacle for the direct flights”, said the
President and added that they were expecting the response of the UK in
these days.
TURKISH CYPRIOTS LIVING IN THE UK START A CAMPAIGN FOR DIRECT
FLIGHTS TO ERCAN
The
members of the Embargoed, which is an NGO set up to struggle against the
embargoes imposed upon the Turkish Cypriots, have launched a petition on
the official website of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair requesting
the start of direct flights between London and North Cyprus and opened the
petition for signature.
It was
reported that until now, total of 3245 people added their names to the
list, which was launched on the 5th of December.
The list
set up by Altay Colak, a member of EMBARGOED, is the ninth most popular
petition launched on the Prime Ministry’s website.
The
petition pointed to the fact that nearly 3 years have passed since the
referendum in Cyprus during which the Turkish Cypriot people voted in
favor of the UN comprehensive settlement plan and that North Cyprus
remained isolated in spite of the commitments made by the United Nations
and the European Union.
Requesting the end for the discrimination against the TRNC through
isolations the petition called upon Blair and the UK government to keep
their promises given to the TRNC people.
