PRESIDENT TALAT MET WITH PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER AZIZ

President Mehmet Ali Talat who was in Islamabad with the official invitation of Pakistan Head of State Pervez Muserref met with Pakistani Prime Minister Sevket Aziz on 5 September.

During the meeting, which took place in Pakistani Prime Ministry and continued for an hour, Prime Minister Aziz said he was very much pleased to see President Talat in Pakistan and stated that Pakistani people would always be by the side of the Turkish Cypriots.

According to the information received from the TRNC Presidency, Prime Minister Aziz expressing the hope that a solution would soon be found to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the UN principles said the Greek Cypriot side’s rejection of the Annan Plan was a big loss for the whole island.

For his part, President Talat thanked for the warm welcome by Aziz and stressed that the Turkish Cypriots were always feeling Pakistan’s sincere and unconditional support and underlined that Pakistan highly contributed to the Turkish Cypriots especially at UN meetings.

The President briefed the Pakistani Prime Minister on the latest developments concerning the Cyprus issue and on the 8-July Agreement reached between the two leaders on the island. Complaining that the Greek Cypriot side has been preventing all kinds of contacts between the European Union and the Turkish Cypriot people, President Talat said the aim of the Greek Cypriot Leader was to corner Turkey through Ankara’s EU membership process forcing her to leave the Turkish Cypriot people alone.

President Talat said he was not against the opening of Turkish ports to the Greek Cypriot Side but added that such a step should be taken simultaneously with the lifting of international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people. He said the best solution for this issue was provided by Turkey’s Action Plan on Cyprus but reminded that the Greek Cypriot Administration had rejected the plan soon after it was announced.

The President also noted that peace in Cyprus would continue to be a very hard target to be reached, as long as the international community fails to persuade the Greek Cypriot side for a solution.

President Talat briefing Aziz on TRNC’s economy, explained that important progress was achieved in the last 2-3 years in the economy. Stating that he believed that this was the result of the Turkish Cypriot side’s new image, President Talat underlined that there was a big increase especially in terms of foreign investment and tourism. He added that at this stage the Turkish Cypriot side spent so much effort for the start of the direct flights to the TRNC and this was essential for TRNC’s economy. President Talat and Prime Minister Aziz also discussed the opportunities of economic cooperation between the TRNC and Pakistan.

  

ORAMS CASE CONCLUDED IN THE UK
RULING IS IN FAVOUR OF TRNC AND ORAMS COUPLE

Orams couple, who was taken to the Court in South Cyprus by a Greek Cypriot citizen Meletis Apostolides with the pretext that they  built a house on the land in the TRNC formerly owned by Apostolides and later taken to the British High Court with the request of impounding  their properties in the UK  won the  court  case. The British High court refused the request of plaintiff.

In the judgment which was seen as a substantial victory for Orams couple who was defended by the TRNC and Cherie Blair, the judge pointed out that protocol -10 of the EU Treaty of Accession of the Greek Cypriot Side to the EU meant that the enforcement of the Greek Cypriot Administration’ judgment could not be valid in Britain.

The judge stated that the property rights of   Mr. and Mrs. Orams who owned property in the TRNC have been protected by the British Courts.

With this reason the judge decided that any compensation decision taken by the Greek Cypriot court could not be implemented in Britain and while convening Elizabeth Orams before the Greek Cypriot Court, rules were violated and because she did not understand the summon written in Greek language she could not submit the necessary defense in time.

Speaking to the press after the ruling, Elizabeth Orams said she was very happy with the court’s decision but added that this was not the end of the road. Explaining that she and her husband had complete faith in the British and EU justice, Mrs. Orams expressed hope that they will win the second appeal as well.  She also thanked the Turkish Cypriot and British people for their overwhelming support throughout the hearing.

Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer before entering the Council of Ministers meeting evaluated the result of Orams case in Britain and Gary Robb investigation.

Prime Minister Soyer stated that the British High Court’s decision on the Orams case created a new platform in the field of international law in terms of the political settlement of the Cyprus issue. The Prime Minister said: “We accept the decision ae accept the ettlement of the Cyprus issue.s tyheasis of tish People  who gave big support to them during their case.s a success in our path towards a solution in terms of solving the property dispute through a negotiation process within a comprehensive settlement, but not in the courts and with individual quarrels.”

Explaining that the property dispute was one of the most important issues in the settlement of the Cyprus problem, Soyer said the Turkish Cypriot people considered the property issue to be a part of a comprehensive settlement and thus desired the settlement of the Cyprus issue and establishment of a united Cyprus on the basis of political equality.

Pointing out that the Greek Cypriot administration, which became an EU member without a solution in Cyprus by using the non solution of the Cyprus problem was trying to achieved what they can within the framework of EU membership, Soyer said Papadopoulos administration right after taking up their duty, within the framework of their non-solution policy tried to blow up the property issue in the international courts to hamper and damage efforts towards finding a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution.

Referring to Immovable Property Commission in the TRNC, Prime Minister Soyer stressed that the Turkish Cypriot side chose to battle through law with the Greek Cypriot administration who was trying to use the international law for their separatist aims by using the gaps they found in Arestis and Loizidu cases.

Prime Minister stating that the usurped Republic of Cyprus in the South was said to be a legitimate and legal state with the international law, said this was not true.

Continuing Prime Minister said the structure of the Republic of Cyprus: “depended on a decision considering Makarios government as the legitimate government until a solution has been reached on the island within the framework of 1964 Compulsory Principle” and added that Compulsory principle could not continue forever and no one could claim legality and legitimacy by depending on this principle.

Also evaluating Orams case TRNC Presidential Spokesperson Hasan Ercakica stressed that the result of the case demonstrated that the property issue which is closely related with the Cyprus problem could not be solved independently from the basis of the Cyprus problem and with individual efforts by searching for some legal ways.

Explaining that as long as the Cyprus problem stayed unsettled property issues and other issues would become more complicated and more difficult to solve, Ercakica called upon the Greek Cypriot administration to focus on the settlement of the Cyprus issue and support the Turkish Cypriot side’s efforts.