FINLAND CANCELLED ITS CYPRUS MEETING

The European Union Term Presidency Finland has announced that it has cancelled this weekend’s meeting on Cyprus in Helsinki, between Turkey and the two sides in the island.

Susanna Parkonnen, the Spokeswoman for the Finnish Foreign Minister Erriki Tuomioja, said that no chances have been left for the proposed meeting in Helsinki, but nevertheless, talks at political level would continue.

Meanwhile, Finnish Foreign Minister Erriki Tuomioja, in a written statement issued, pointed out that they had met with all the related parties on Turkey’s membership process and the start of the direct trade with the TRNC. He said “We aimed to help Turkey to continue to its EU membership negotiation process without interruption, and improve the conditions of the two communities in Cyprus”.

Tuomioja stated that before 8 November, when the progress report on Turkey would be announced, they could not be able to realize their plans for a meting on Cyprus, but solution efforts would naturally continue.

PRESIDENT TALAT “I AM DISCONTENTED THAT FINLANDS INITIATIVE WAS CANCELLED”

Speaking to reporters in Istanbul yesterday, before attending to a meeting organized by Istanbul Financial Development Foundation, President Mehmet Ali Talat said that he was discontented because of the failure of Finland’s initiative to bring the parties together.

President Talat said that he was not informed of the true reasons behind the cancellation. He however, pointed to reports in the Greek Cypriot press that the Greek Cypriot side had put forward several preconditions and said if the reason of the cancellation was these preconditions he would make a different comment.

President Talat said the failure of the initiative meant that the danger of a difficulty in Turkey’s EU accession talks over Cyprus still remained.

The President said “putting Finland’s proposal’s imbalance at one side, it could be fruitful to discuss this process bring to a point”. Talat added that the Greek Cypriot side was constantly trying to exclude and ignore the Turkish Cypriots from the process and thus trying to present the Cyprus problem as one between itself and Turkey. “Naturally, we could not accept this, and we are sure that we are not responsible from this cancellation” he said.

Referring to the reports to the effect that the Greek Cypriot side wanted the Turkish side to be included in Turkey’s delegation, President Talat said “this is a dream. TRNC exists with its own will and people. This entity would be represented there. Any meeting on Cyprus cannot be held if TRNC was not represented.”

AVCI EVALUATED THE CANCELLATION OF THE HELSINKI MEETING

The Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Turgay Avci evaluated the cancellation of the Helsinki meeting.

Stressing that the Turkish side has accepted invitation to attend the Helsinki meeting, Avcý said the Greek Cypriot side could not be brought to the negotiations table.

Referring to Finnish proposal, Foreign Minister Turgay Avci reminded that the proposal did not have a concrete form and that if it was going to be a proposal package on the table, the Turkish Cypriots’ views should also be included.

Deputy Prime Minister Turgay Avci has stated that as different form the past, the Turkish Cypriot side would be at the negotiation table and took part within the process. He stressed that they would not leave the table and would stress the rightfulness of the Turkish Cypriots at the negotiations.

Avci said the reason behind the Greek Cypriot Administration’s refusal to negotiate with the Turkish Cypriot side, was that they did not accept the Turkish Cypriots as their equals.

Deputy Prime Minister Avcý underlined that they were at the negotiation table for a comprehensive settlement based on political equality, and it was the Greek Cypriots who has always refrained form a settlement.

PRIME MINISTER: “A SETTLEMENT IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT TURKISH CYPRIOTS”

Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer said that a settlement was not possible without the Turkish Cypriots.

Speaking on a radio program Prime Minister Soyer responded to the statements of Greek Cypriot government spokesman Hristodulos Pasardis. On being reminded Pasardis’ claim to the effect that the Turkish Cypriot side could not have a say on the issue of Varosha, Soyer stressed that the political scene in the Greek Cypriot side should be well analyzed.

Prime Minister Soyer referring to the Greek Cypriot politicians’ statements to the effect that their collocutor is Turkey, they could meet with President Talat only if he was included in the Turkish delegation and the Turkish Cypriot people did not have a right of say on Varosha, stated that with such allegations the Greek Cypriot administration had proved that their actual problem was with the Turkish Cypriots not Turkey. Soyer added that the real aim of the pro-status quo Greek Cypriot politicians was not to reach a federal settlement based on equality, but to make imposition with a dominative understanding.

“They don’t have a problem with Turkey, their problem is the Turkish Cypriot people”, said Prime Minister Soyer and added: “the Greek Cypriot politicians don’t want to accept the fact that the Turkish Cypriot people have the same rights as them in this country. Therefore, they talk about federation, but their minds to not say the same thing. But the Turkish Cypriot people desire a united Cyprus, solution and peace in Cyprus.

FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI: “WE SHOULD ESTABLISH A STRONG LOBBY AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý, yesterday (2 November) received the members of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce headed by Erdil Nami.

Speaking during the meeting, Turgay Avcý stressing that the Turkish Cypriots should work in unity and establish a strong lobbying activity at international level, stated that this should be done by working together with all institutions and NGOs.

“If we think that the Parliamentarians in the EU think about Cyprus and what they could do for the Turkish Cypriots, then we are mistaken”, Foreign Minister Avcý said.

Avcý pointed out that the Foreign Ministry should work strongly and in unity with all NGOs. Stressing the importance of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce in the TRNC, Turgay Avcý said the support of the Chamber for the Ministry’s activities abroad was essential.