STATEMENT BY PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN HASAN ERCAKICA ON 15 APRIL 2008

As the works to prepare the negotiation process which the two leaders will participate with full capacity so as to reach a comprehensive settlement for the Cyprus problem are being carried out, the Greek Cypriot leadership is trying to nominate Turkey, in a way that does not coincide with the historical facts, as the one who is responsible for the stalemate.

This effort, the new Greek Cypriot leader Mr. Demetris Christofias also supports is futile. The fact that this effort will be proven futile and it is the Greek Cypriot side who has to prove to the whole world that they really intend for a settlement, has been established yesterday by President Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat himself in the most remarkable way possible.

One of the most important instruments the Greek Cypriot side should make use of to prove that they now have altered their policy would be ending the efforts to isolate the Turkish Cypriot side. An alteration in the policy the Greek Cypriot side has been employing regarding the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot side would be the most important criteria in terms of indicating whether the presidential elections in South Cyprus constitutes a genuine change of policy. Unfortunately, instead of what is expected, the Greek Cypriot side maintains and even intensifies its attempts to isolate the Turkish Cypriot side.

In the meantime, the Greek Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs has announced that they intend to maintain the cases they filed against the European Commission to the end of hampering the Financial Aid Regulation. Even though the fact that the application for interim measures to be granted for the tender procedure launched in line with the said Regulation was rejected constitutes an opportunity for the withdrawal of these cases, the Greek Cypriot side has wasted it roughly and made it clear that they do not intend to change their policy.

Given the circumstances, it is the responsibility of the international community to issue the necessary warnings to the Greek Cypriot side. This warning should not only be via diplomatic channels but through actual implementations as well.

The fact that the Greek Cypriot side realizes that its efforts to maintain the status quo are futile is important and necessary for them to be willing to contribute to the efforts of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, in other words, to change their policy to facilitate reaching a settlement for the Cyprus problem.