PRESIDENT TALAT: “CONDITIONS ARE
SUITABLE FOR A SOLUTION. WE WILL DO OUR UTMOST”
President Mehmet Ali Talat stated that the
conditions were very suitable in Cyprus for a solution and they
would do their utmost on this issue.
President Talat pointing out that the Lokmacý
bordergate was not the first gate opened in Cyprus, said the
opening of the gates could not directly affect the solution of
the Cyprus problem.
Making evaluations towards the solution of
the Cyprus problem at Istanbul Swiss Hotel President Talat said
Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias, contrary to former
Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos, was afraid of the
permanent division in Cyprus and that he won the elections with
this policy.
President Talat explained that the ideology
of Christofias was the reunification of Cyprus but with regard
to the EU’s stance, the EU was under the influence of the Greek
Cypriot side. Talat added that the Turkish Cypriot side did not
expect much from the EU, because it could not be impartial since
the Greek Cypriot side was its member.
Stressing that the efforts towards the
lifting of the isolation should not be negatively affected from
the settlement negotiations, President said the restrictions
imposed on the Greek Cypriot side by Turkey would not be lifted
unless the isolation on the Turkish Cypriots ended.
Stating that 3 working groups were currently
evaluating all the aspects of the Cyprus problem, President
Talat said they would convey their evaluations to the leaders of
the two sides after three months and then the negotiations would
start.
Drawing attention to the advantages of the
Greek Cypriot side because of being an EU member, President said
the UN should actively involve in the process and exert pressure
on the Greek Cypriot side.
President Talat pointing out that the Lokmacý
bordergate, which opened yesterday (3 April), was first built in
1958 while Lefkosa was being divided said it was later opened
and closed again in the following years. Talat reminded that the
Turkish Cypriot side had demolished its wall at Lokmacý in 2005,
but the gate could not be opened then as a result of the
difficulties created by the Greek Cypriot side.
Explaining that he and Christofias took the
decision for the opening of the gate during their meeting on 21
March, Talat said the opening of the gate would be economically
advantageous for both sides.
Reminding that the opening of the border
gates in 2003 was expected to bring the two peoples close to
each other, Talat said however as a result of Papadopoulos’
policies this could not be materialized and even tension
increased from time to time and reminded that some Turkish
Cypriots who crossed over to South Cyprus were attacked by Greek
Cypriots. Talat said that what was important was the policies
not the opening of the border gates, adding that if the policy
of bringing the two peoples closer is seriously pursued, this
would be much more beneficial than the opening of the gates.
