SHROEDER’S VISIT TO THE TRNC

SHROEDER: “THERE ISN’T ANY DRAWBACKS FOR CARRYING OUT DIRECT FLIGHTS TO ERCAN AIRPORT”

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Shroeder who came to the TRNC upon the invitation of Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer on a private plane on Friday (1 February) met with President Talat, Prime Minister Soyer and representatives of the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce within the framework of his contacts.

Shroeder expressing pleasure to be in the TRNC said he accepted the invitation of Soyer because of his interest in the Cyprus issue.

Explaining that he had spent efforts for the reunification of the island during the period when he was the prime minister and his support for the Annan plan Shroeder said the EU needed a united Cyprus not a divided one.

For his part, Prime Minister Soyer said Ercan Airport was open to all kinds of international flights and every citizen of the EU had the right to visit Northern Cyprus via Ercan Airport to freedom of movement within the island. Soyer stressed that the ports in Northern Cyprus was not closed according to international law and neither the UN nor the EU had imposed embargoes towards the ports in Northern Cyprus. Soyer expressed Turkish Cypriot people’s desire to integrate with the world.

Meanwhile, Shroeder and President Talat held a joint press conference prior to their meeting.

Shroeder pointed out that a united Europe and a united Cyprus was an important goal which should be achieved and added that what was important in economic terms was the launching of direct trade between the TRNC and the EU.

Stating that he was pleased to see that the EU was financially supporting Northern Cyprus, Shroeder said however the direct trade was more important than the financial aid.

Shroeder also noted that the EU should keep its promises given the Turkish Cypriot people following their affirmative vote for the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem. He also expressed hope that there would be a new initiative by the UN soon and said the Annan plan should be the basis for negotiations.

For his part, President Talat stated that it was important for the Turkish Cypriot people to improve its relations with Germany which was one of the leading countries within the EU.

Talat said that Schroder’s visit meant a new effort for the solution of the problem and evaluated the visit as an important step towards the removal of isolation on the Turkish Cypriot people. He added that the visit showed the international community’s continued interest on Cyprus.

 

 

JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE BY SOYER AND SHROEDER

 

Prime Minister Soyer and Former German Chancellor Gerhard Shroeder held a joint press conference on Friday (2 February) at Colony Hotel in Kyrenia.

Prime Minister Soyer stating that Cyprus was part of Europe and that the EU was a great project uniting Europe in terms of national values, said this project has created opportunities for Turkey’s EU membership process and Cyprus’ membership and reminded that in this context, Turkish Cypriots and Turkey has been supporting the solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the UN parameters.

Soyer noted that Cyprus was still divided and finding a permanent, bi-zonal, bi-communal settlement on the basis of the UN parameters continued to be the Turkish Cypriot side’s main goal.

Explaining that Shroeder’s visit has opened a new window for showing the desire of the Turkish Cypriot people to integrate with the world and Europe and towards the beginning of new efforts towards a solution, Soyer thanked him for his visit.

Soyer stressing that the issue of ports was a problem for both North and South Cyprus and it was an obstacle in front of the project of Europe to make the Mediterranean a joint economic region, said the Turkish Cypriot side would do its utmost for the development of peace and cooperation amongst the peoples in the region.

For his part, Shroeder stating that the image of North Cyprus has positively changed following the referendum in 2004, said it was pleasing to see that the EU has honoured part of its promises it gave to the North Cyprus but added that EU financial assistance alone was not enough and that it was essential to launch direct trade.

Shroeder emphasized the need to implement the direct trade regulation as soon as possible and to remove the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Noting that the division of the island was a problem for Europe, Shroeder reiterated his support for a solution on the basis of the Annan plan.

Shroeder also pointed out that Northern Cyprus was an important country in terms of tourism and worth to vacation.

Shroeder and his accompanying delegation left the TRNC after completing their contacts.

 

 

FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI MEETS BRITISH NATIONAL MEDIA

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý within the framework of his contacts in London met with Financial Times’ Editor for Europe Quentin Peel, The Economist’s Editor for Europe John Pete, The Banker’s Editor and The Director’s Editor Nick Kochan, respectively, at the TRNC’s representative office in London.

Foreign Minister Avcý stating that improving relations with the EU countries was a very important goal in the TRNC’s foreign policy said also the studies for improving relations with the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and bilateral relations with its member countries has been accelerated.

Explaining that the TRNC’s views had started to be acknowledged after 2004, Avcý said within this context the EU countries should take an action for the lifting of all kinds of restrictions on the Turkish Cypriot people.

Pointing out that following the forthcoming presidential elections in South Cyprus, a new initiative will be taken, Avcý said the new initiative was expected to be taken by the UN Secretary General. Avcý said if the stance of the Greek Cypriot administration did not change following the elections, the Turkish Cypriot people would not have a patience to wait for another 40 years and in such a case, they would have to identify a new policy.

Foreign Minister Avcý also gave interviews to the editors of The Daily Telegraph, The Times and British State News Agency the Press Association. Avcý said the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus not a country where fugitives can seek shelter or hide.

Responding to claims that a UK fugitive involved in a 53 million pound heist, the biggest in UK History were hiding in North Cyprus, said that the allegations were not true and that the suspect had never set foot in the TRNC.

Foreign Minister said that that the TRNC was not a country which allowed fugitives to hide and called on British police to cooperate with Turkish Cypriot officials in investigating the case.

Pointing out that the TRNC was not a safe haven for fugitives or money laundering and was a much safer place than many other countries, Avci reminded that the international money laundering laws were in force and implemented in the TRNC.

As part of his contacts, Foreign Minister Avcý also met with the Chairman of London Turkish Football Federation Nazým Celebi and the Chairman of Turkish Education Consortium Abdullah Hasdemir.

Foreign Minister Avcý also visited the Ali Riza Degirmencioglu Turkish School in Londo and with representatives from the British Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce. A group of British prosecutors, lawyers and judges headed by Emma Ethem visited Foreign Minister Avcý and they exchanged views on the legal problems and struggle for the direct flights to the TRNC.

The Foreign Minister who completed his contacts in the British capital returned to the TRNC yesterday (3 February).

 

 

OIC CALLS FOR ENDING THE ISOLATION...

 

The Parliamentary Union of the OIC member states, which took place in the Egyptian capital Cairo, has adopted a resolution on Cyprus. The resolution invites all OIC member states to effectively cooperate to help ease the inhuman international isolation on the Turkish Cypriot People and to strengthen their relations with the Turkish Cypriot State.

Expressing pleasure for Turkey’s and Turkish Cypriots’ determination for a political and permanent settlement in Cyprus, the resolution noted that the lifting of the isolation was not against the UN resolutions. It also expressed support for the UN Secretary General’s latest report.

The Parliamentary Union of the OIC has 49 member countries and the Parliament Speakers of 42 countries participated to the meeting which took place between 28-31 January in Egypt.