The TRNC Presidency Spokesman Hasan Ercakica stated that they have given a positive response to the proposal aiming at advancement of the negotiation process concerning the Cyprus Issue. In the weekly press conference held by Hasan Ercakica, he stated that the response to the proposal submitted by UN Special Representative to Cyprus Michael Moller, is positive and that, today, it will be conveyed to them.

Commenting on the persistent demand of the Greek Cypriot side concerning a “preparation process”, Ercakica said that the Turkish Cypriot side do not require such a preparation process but provided that it is on a reasonable time scale and well planned; they will participate in the said process.

Hasan Ercakica stressed that it was the political will which was necessary for the resumption of the Cyprus negotiations, not a preparation process.

In the weekly press conference, Ercakica stated the following regarding the process concerning the Cyprus Issue:

“While in New York, the Greek Cypriot leader Tasos Papadopoulos continued making the same statements he had made last week as he was leaving Cyprus and reiterated that he is not ready for comprehensive negotiations to be held for the settlement of the Cyprus Issue. Speaking of “preparation” for negotiations, Papadopoulos cannot reveal his intentions clearly. The Turkish Cypriot side have stated that they are ready to participate in such a “preparation process” provided that it is on a reasonable time scale and limited to issues of necessity. Actually, the decisions adopted on 8 July 2006 also envisage the commencement of such a process.

However, the Greek Cypriot side, extending this preparation process as long as they can, aim to use both the time they will gain and the advantages of being an EU member against the Turkish Cypriots. Announcing that they are not ready for negotiations, they also do their best to create a crisis in the Turkey-EU negotiations, which reveals that this strategy is no more a secret.

We would like to state one more time that as the Turkish Cypriot side we are ready for comprehensive negotiations. As long as the preparation process the Greek Cypriot side need is planned well and truly aims at the resumption of comprehensive negotiations, we are ready to participate in that process for a reasonable period of time as well.

Within this context, we have concluded our work concerning the proposal submitted by UN Special Representative to Cyprus Michael Moller. This work will be conveyed to the UN Cyprus Office today. Following this stage, we expect the commencement of the needed preparation process, which will be concluded in a reasonable period of time.

In the meantime, we demand an immediate start by the technical committees, which will work on day-to-day issues and were envisaged in the 8 July decisions to start working following the exchange of lists on issues of substance. While 8 July decisions envisaged the technical committees to take up day-to-day issues, the substantial issues were to be discussed in the working groups. This terminology is very clear. Despite this, expressions to the effect that the technical committees would make preparations on the Cyprus issue, would lead to misunderstandings by the public opinion.”

Pointing out that Greek Cypriot leaders are spending efforts to blame Turkey in their statements, the TRNC Presidency Spokesman Ercakica said this stance is “ a method of underestimating or even ignoring the will of the Turkish Cypriot people”.

Referring to the recent statements made by the President of Greek Cypriot House of Representatives and General Secretary of AKEL Dimitris Christofias during his visit to Thessalonica, Ercakica said “It is necessary to state that most of the positions and attitudes Christofias is attacking at are directly developed, settled and implemented within the democratic mechanism of Turkish Cypriots.”