PRESIDENT TALAT: "GREEK CYPRIOT
ADMINISTRATION HAS NO RIGHT OVER NORTH CYPRUS"
President Talat stated that the political equality of
the Turkish Cypriots was the main parameter in settling the Cyprus problem
and that the Greek Cypriot administration had no right whatsoever over
North Cyprus.
He said only the Turkish Cypriots had a say over the
North and this should be acknowledged by the whole world but because of
some points in international law certain problems were being encountered
in implementing this.
Continuing the President said:
"We'll continue to explain this and preserve our
positive policy on a Cyprus settlement. As long as we continue to preserve
this the understanding in the world, which is in the process of changing,
will ensure some changes. This is our hope, expectation and struggle.
There should be a kind of peace in this country which should be permanent
and secure and no one should be suffered any more".
Meanwhile, speaking at another meeting, President Talat
wanted the whole world to evaluate the mentality of the Greek Cypriot
administration, which had the audacity to force the President elected by
the Turkish Cypriot people to have meetings in hotels and coffee shops.
Referring to articles in the Greek Cypriot press that
the UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's visit to the island could be
postponed, he said everything was happening in the eyes of the whole world
and expressed the hope that this visit would not be postponed.
He underlined that as a guarantor power the UK had a
responsibility to treat the two peoples equally and said he believed the
UK would show the necessary care on this issue.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SETS UP CONTACT GROUP
WITH TRNC
In order to further develop relations with the TRNC the
European Parliament has set up a "High Level Contact Group " with the TRNC.
French right-wing MEP Francoise Grossetete will be the
coordinator of contact group, which includes all representatives from all
political groups in the European Parliament.
To discuss the activities that will be carried out in
the next 6 months the Group recently had its first meeting in
Strasbourg.
The Group, which will work towards strengthening and
increasing relations and dialogue with the TRNC will meet with
representatives from the TRNC political parties, NGO's, businessmen and
workers. The Group will include 8 MEPS, which is expected to make their
first visit to the TRNC in March 2006.
The Group will also examine ways of effectively
implementing the decisions taken by the EU Council towards lifting the
TRNC's economic isolation following the Greek Cypriot side's rejection of
the UN Plan.
Speaking to the Anatolian News Agency the Group's
German MEP of Turkish origin Cem Ozdemir said, "This group's establishment
is a positive development. It's the first time that the European
Parliament will deal directly with the Turkish Cypriot administrators and
politicians. We'll work to overcome our differences and prepare a
constructive report".
