NEW YEAR MESSAGES OF PRESIDENT TALAT AND PRIME MINISTER SOYER

TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat in his new year message issued, stressed that finding a permanent settlement to the Cyprus issue and bringing peace to Cyprus would continue to be their main target.

Talat said: "we will work towards finding a mutually acceptable settlement based on political equality and establishing a modern new state order, which will set an example to the whole world."

Stating that the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots share same destiny Talat said: " we should succeed to unite on the bases of equality, peace and friendship."

Addressing to the Turkish Cypriot people President Talat stated that lifting of the years long embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people, would be an important step towards reaching a settlement. President Talat said they wanted to see, on 2006 that, the EU would kept its promise for the lifting of the embargoes and states and international organizations would put an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots in line with the UN Secretary General’s advises.

For his part Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer stated that the Turkish Cypriot people, who wanted peace and a permanent political settlement based on political equality, were entering the new year (2006) with new hopes.

Pointing out that, the government while on the one hand was trying to establish a self-sufficient structure, on the other hand, was spending efforts for the settlement of the Cyprus issue in full conformity with the President.

Soyer said: " with the belief that nothing can alter peace and settlement, and with our determination to reach a settlement on the basis of the Annan Plan our struggle will continue in every platforms including legal platforms. Today, our basic aim is to reach a settlement., just as it was in the past."

 

MATSAKIS ARRESTED

Security Forces Court gave one day arrest to Greek Cypriot MEP Marios Matsakis, who was arrested on 31 December 2005 at Ledra Palace Crossing point, because he entered the Turkish Cypriot military region and stole the Turkish flag from the empty sentry post.