PRESIDENT TALAT  EVALUATED ELECTION RESULTS IN SOUTH CYPRUS

In a written statement, President Mehmet Ali Talat has expressed the hope that the change of leadership in South Cyprus will facilitate the policies being pursued by the Turkish Cypriot side in support of a solution to the Cyprus problem. The President said that  elimination of Tassos Papadopoulos from the race has raised the hopes that the deadlock in the negotiations process can be overcome.

“The fact that Tassos Papadopoulos-who has been the president of the Greek Cypriot Administration for the last five years, and who has pioneered the rejection of  the UN Settlement Plan, which was the most comprehensive settlement plan prepared to date - was eliminated in the first round raises hopes that the deadlock in the negotiations process can be overcome” the President said.

The President stressed that the Turkish Cypriot people was in support of the establishment of a new partnership state based on the political equality of the two peoples and the equal status of two constituent states.

He said that Papadopoulos was unfortunately not interested in the solution of the Cyprus problem and that the positions put forward by the two candidates, who would be competing for presidency in the second round, indicate that they were more interested in the solution of the problem.

“It will be clear in the near future whether this interest will be enough to bring us to a comprehensive solution” the President said, adding that the sheer existence of such a desire will lead to the intensification of efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.
He noted that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to contribute to these efforts and find an early, just and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem

 

 

 

PRESIDENT MEHMET ALI TALAT HAS WELCOMED THE INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVO

 

In a written statement yesterday, the President expressed the hope that Kosovo’s independence will have a positive influence on security and cooperation in the Balkans, which is of utmost importance for the stability of the world.

In his statement, President Mehmet Ali Talat called on those who oppose the independence of Kosovo to take into consideration that no people can be forced to live under the rule of another people and to make the necessary contributions towards solving the problems through cooperation.

‘The will of the people of Kosovo should be respected and the new state should be assisted’ President Talat added. Expressing the hope that the European Union will act with a high conception of its responsibilities, Talat said he believed that the EU will not repeat the mistakes which the Turkish Cypriots suffer from in the Cyprus problem. He also said that it would be very appropriate to make use of enlargement as an instrument to solve this difficult and complex problem.

‘On behalf of the Turkish Cypriot People, who have preserved their identity, went through a lot of pain to live in freedom and who are still continuing with their struggle, I sincerely congratulate Kosovo and the people of Kosovo and wish that Kosovo’s membership in the world’s family of the nations contributes to humanity and world peace’ President  Talat said.

 

 

 

 

PRIME MINISTER SOYER “WHOEVER WINS  ELECTIONS AT SOUTH CYPRUS  SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO FINDING A SETTLEMENT WITHOUT LOOSING TIME”

 

Commenting on the results of the election in South Cyprus, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer said that elimination of Papdopulous  form elections in South Cyprus was a historic turning point  and whoever wins  elections at south Cyprus  should contribute to finding a settlement without loosing time.

 

Prime Minister added that  the election will start a new process on the Cyprus issue. Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer said that the election results in South Cyprus is an indication that 65% of the people in South Cyprus have abandoned the policies pursued by Greek Cypriot Leader Papadopulos who has been trying to kill the United Nations negotiations process, by motivating the Greek Cypriot people  to a wrong path and by pressurizing the Turkish Cypriot people and Turkey.

Prime Minister Soyer reminded that Ioannais Kasulides is a member of the Greek Cypriot DISY party, who supported the Annan Plan during the 2004 referendum on the island and expressed the view that the elections would start a new process on the Cyprus issue.

Prime Minister Soyer said: “After the second round of elections, whoever becomes the Greek Cypriot President  the Turkish side’s position should be to further  a solution process on the basis of the UN settlement plan and UN parameters. A partnership should be established on the basis of the equality of the two  founding states  however, if Kasulides  or Hristofyas are  going  work for a settlement  which will exclude the UN parameters and base  on the  “Helen” characteristic of the Cyprus Republic  which  abolished its  bi-communal characteristic after 1963, this will only lead to the unsettlement of the Cyprus issue.”

Prime Minister Soyer noted that President Mehmet Ali Talat together with Turkey have determined joint policies towards bringing a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of political equality of the two founding states and the existing UN parameters.

 

 

 

AVCI VISITED TURKISH CONSUL TO MELBOURNE AYKUT SEZGIN
AVCI: “TRNC ECONOMY  SHOULD BE OPENED TO THE WORLD”

 

Foreign Minister Turgay Avci who is in Australia to attend a series of celebrations in Melbourne and Sydney marking the 60th anniversary of the first migration of Turkish Cypriots to Australia also met with the Turkish Consul to Melbourne Aykut Sezgin and the Mayor of Melbourne John So.

Turkish Consul Sezgin said this year the celebrations-festival- had a different character with the participation of  the Minister of Foreign Affairs  from the TRNC, Turgay Avcý.  Stressing that  Foreign Minister Avcý’s address to the Turkish Cypriot people  had given support to them attracted  great attention  Sezgin said  this types of visits should be repeated at least once a year.

Within his contacts in Australia, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Avcý also visited the Mayor of Melbourne John So  and expressed his pleasure from the fact that he participated to the celebrations  and  gave support to  and addressed  Turkish Cypriots. Avcý also invited him to the TRNC.

Deputy Prime Minister  and Minister of Foreign Affairs  Turgay Avci within the framework of his contacts in Australia told a group of Turkish businessmen in the country that establishment of economic relations would be a step towards opening up the Turkish Cypriot economy to the world.

As part of his contacts in Australia, Foreign Minister Avcý came together with Turkish Businessmen at a dinner given in his honor by the President of the Turkish Businessmen Council Huseyin Mustafa last night. Speaking at the dinner, Mr. Mustafa expressed their readiness to support the economy of the TRNC and said that as a first time, some TRNC products can be imported to the country.

For his part, Mr. Avci said it will be a motivation for the Turkish Cypriots if Turkish Businessmen living in Australia invest in the TRNC or at least symbolically buy Turkish Cypriot products. He noted that such a move will also contribute to the development of political, social and cultural ties between the Turkish Cypriot People and Turkish Cypriots living in the country.