PRESIDENT TALAT: "A CORRECT, DETERMINED AND REASONABLE POLICY IS BEING FOLLOWED IN CYPRUS"

President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday (23 February) went to Istanbul, where he gave a conference entitled, "Cyprus: The New Period in the Settlement Process" at the Bogazici University and indicating that a correct, determined and reasonable policy was being followed in Cyprus, said: "As a result of the recent developments that took place in Turkey and the TRNC, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side are in a better position morally in the international arena".

Indicating that in addition to the Cyprus problem's own importance, it was also important from the point of view of Turkey's EU membership, the President said the fate of Turkey and Cyprus were virtually linked.

Explaining that the 1974 intervention had divided Cyprus but this division had been in existence since 1963 and this division had a fragmented structure, President Talat said this division wasn't normal and that the problem was continuing even today.

He said in this abnormal structure in Cyprus another one had emerged, which resulted in the accession of a divided Cyprus into the EU.

President Talat said the Greek Cypriot side, which is known as the Republic of Cyprus and claims to represent the whole of the island, had gained strength by becoming an EU member and resulted in the Turkish Cypriots being isolated from the rest of the world. He said: "Turkish Cypriots are not only isolated economically, but in all areas of life from the rest of the world. The TRNC's economic isolation is still ongoing".

Saying an answer should be given about what should be done from this point onwards, the President said Turkish Cypriots should struggle for lifting the isolations.

Highlighting that with their recent policies Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side have been trying to turn their previously disadvantageous position into a advantageous one, the President said this had led to Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side being in a better position in the international arena.

He said: "This position must be carefully evaluated by international law. We should maintain this position by knowing what we are doing, how flexible we can be, and how far we can go".

The human rights "Embargoed" organisation that was formed by Turkish Cypriots living in England recently organised a demonstration to protest the football embargo imposed on the TRNC.

A demonstration took place outside the French Embassy in London to protest the cancelling of the friendly match that was planned to take place between the TRNC and Monaco on 18 February.

Also condemning the Monaco football club, who decided to cancel the football match, the Turkish Cypriots demonstrated with banners saying: "Politics have no place in sports". The group also requested the decision taken by the French Football Federation to be revoked.

The group protested FIFA's decision, which banned playing football matches with TRNC football teams, and stated that they would continue with their protest.

The Turkish Transport Minister Binali Yıldırım has stated that according to Turkish sea transportation regime restrictions have been imposed on Greek Cypriot flagged vessels since 1987 and that in line with this procedure permission was not granted to the Greek Cypriot flagged 'Able F' vessel that wanted to approach the port of Mersin yesterday (23 February).

Yıldırım said it was forbidden for Greek Cypriot flagged vessels to directly enter Turkish ports to load and unload cargo and for other vessels which had previously visited ports in South Cyprus to enter Turkish ports.