TALAT: “THE TURKISH SIDE IS READY TO SOLVE THE CYPRUS ISSUE”

TRNC President Talat at a Press Conference yesterday   evaluated the  results of the Greek Cypriot elections and stressed that a settlement could be found  to the Cyprus issue  untill the end of 2008.  The following is the text of the President’s  press conference.

“Valued members of the media,

In the first round of elections last week, the Greek Cypriot people decided on change. They took the first step to create the conditions that will put an end to the loss of time. Change was definite. And within the framework of this change...yesterday, the Greek Cypriot people elected...Mr. Demetris Christofias. We hope that these elections will open a new chapter.

We see the election results as the manifestation of the desire for change. We hope that this will become a reality. This forthcoming period will be a difficult period. We need a settlement that will be acceptable to both peoples. The referendum right has been confirmed in the international arena as an indispensable right for both peoples. Therefore, a settlement will be approved by the two peoples in simultaneous referenda in the forthcoming period. Thus, we have a heavy responsibility on our shoulders. Both Mr. Christofias and I have a really heavy responsibility. Our fundamental goal must be to reach a settlement that is acceptable to both peoples and we should act in full awareness of this responsibility. In fact, Cyprus probably is the most typical example that demonstrates why ... this responsibility is a very important one. Remember the referenda in 2004. The settlement that was devised in 2004 was supported by the Turkish Cypriot leadership, which launched a campaign to encourage te people to accept it. The Greek Cypriot leadership, on the other hand, launched a campaign and asked the people to vote ‘No’ to the settlement plan. We should never be faced with such a situation ever again. Both for this reason, and in general, we should not indulge in an effort to cultivate images in the forthcoming period. I believe that hiding, holding back our real intention, holding back our real goal and putting forward our real attitude at the last moment, would lead to the most destructive outcome: This would lead to the definite division of Cyprus. First saying ‘we accept, we are flexible, we are ready to accept,’ and then rejecting a solution... would, this time, lead to a destruction impossible to heal. For that reason, this forthcoming period is not a period of cultivating images. It is a period of real efforts to solve the Cyprus problem. We, as the Turkish Cypriot side, will take advantage of this new period and do everything in our capacity for the solution of the Cyrus problem. We have already proven our intentions. Nobody can deny this fact. The Turkish Cypriot side, not only during the referenda in 2004, but in the ensuing period, has done everything in its capacity for the solution of the Cyprus problem. The Turkish Cypriot side desired a solution, worked for a solution, took steps for a solution under the difficult conditions of the post-referenda period. For that reason, we will regard this forthcoming period as an opportunity, we will regard the Greek Cypriot people’s vote for change as the beginning of a new period and we will work very hard and very carefully.

The settlement will be within the parameters and the body of work of the United Nations. This is a known fact. The Cyprus problem, for the last 40 years, at least for the last 30 years, has been the topic of negotiations. Therefore, there is a vast accumulation of work on the Cyprus problem and as the Turkish Cypriot side, we support and desire a solution within the framework of the basic elements of this accumulation. And we want to definitely succeed. The basic parameter is the political equality of the two peoples, in other words, of Turkish and Greek Cypriots. We will always take this into consideration. We will always aim for a settlement that guards the political equality of the two peoples. We believe that equal status of the two constituent states that will be established in a united Cyprus, is of utmost importance. We believe that equal status of the two constituent states is one of the most important United Nations parameters. And we know that there is almost no disagreement over this element. We support and preserve this attitude. This process, certainly, will give rise to a new state. In other words, we aim at establishing a new partnership state based on the political equality of the two peoples and the equal status of two constituent states, exactly as it was in the case of the establishment of the 1960 Republic of Cyprus. Both peoples will have to embrace this state... And it is specifically for this reason why this new partnership state – as I expressed in the beginning of my speech – will be put to referenda and both peoples will be asked to approve it. We are acting with this understanding.

And of course, the European Union continues to be the goal of the Turkish Cypriot people as always. Sometimes they say ‘the whole island is in the European Union.’ Unfortunately, the whole island is not in the European Union. Only half of the island is in the European Union. We want the whole island to join the European Union. If the European approach of the Turkish Cypriot people, their flexibility and willingness for dialogue is to be taken into consideration, keeping them out of the European Union is quite meaningless. And Europe is also aware of this fact. Therefore, we hope and expect that this problem will also be overcome through a solution.

A new climate, a new period... We are hopeful. We wholeheartedly hope that this hope will lead to a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem following a successful period of settlement efforts. And we will make efforts to reach this goal. I would like to once again candidly congratulate Mr. Demetris Christofias and with this understanding, call upon him to meet and cooperate in a negotiations period that will start as soon as possible. This forthcoming period will be a period during which the Cyprus problem can be solved within a reasonable space of time -despite all difficulties- provided that there is will. We will be able to better see what this reasonable space of time is in a short while following the ground-testing. With this understanding, I would like to reiterate that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready...”

 

 

BAROSSO CALLS ON CHRISTOFIAS TO START NEGOTIATIONS WITH PRESIDENT TALAT

The European Commission has urged the newly elected Greek Cypriot Leader  Dimitris Christofias to grasp the chance to negotiate a settlement in Cyprus.

The President of the Commission Jose Manuel Barosso called on Christofias to start negotiations with the Turkish Cypriot side without any delay.

In a written statement yesterday, the Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso congratulated the AKEL leader on his victory.

Reminding that he met with Christofias last December, "Your election offers the opportunity to overcome the longstanding stalemate on the Cyprus issue," Barosso said.

He said he would strongly encourage him to grasp this chance and without delay start negotiations under United Nations auspices with  President Talat on a comprehensive settlement.