PRESIDENT TALAT'S PRESS CONFERENCE DATED 6 MARCH 2008

President Talat: “We Will Do Our Part so that UN’s Visit Can Serve as the Beginning of Negotiations”... “We Had Proposed the Week of March 17”.

President Mehmet Ali Talat stated that the Turkish side will do its part so that the visit by the UN team in April can serve as the beginning of negotiations.

“It is not yet clear under what conditions the solution negotiations will begin, if they will even begin, within what scope they will be and when they will begin,” said Talat. “We want (negotiations) to begin as soon as possible. We are doing everything in our capacity in that regard but since negotiations will begin through an initiative by the UN, we have to wait for the UN’s assessment visit.”

President Talat was speaking at the Ercan Airport on his return to Cyprus after his trip to Ankara. Talat stated that it had become clear during his meeting in Ankara and the assessments which followed that the Turkish side and Turkey are ready to do their part. He said that there is no hesitation in that respect and added that they are in full agreement with Turkey. Talat stated that assessments will continue in the coming days.

Hopes have risen with the election of a leader, who advocates solution, instead of a leader who clearly did not want solution, stated Talat. He said that the necessary preparations (for solution) are being undertaken in Cyprus in coordination with Turkey.

“Both Turkey and we want the Cyprus problem to be solved as soon as possible,” said Talat. “We want comprehensive solution negotiations to begin as soon as possible. We should not waste any more time. It is still possible to reach a solution by the end of 2008. We are ready to give our support to the efforts of the UN in this respect.”

Talat pointed out that the Cyprus problem is an international and multi-dimensional problem. He stated that although the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides are the leading actors, Turkey, Greece and the UK, as the guarantor powers, also have a role.

In response to a question on what Ankara thinks about Christofias, Talat said: “Ankara listened to us. We are the ones who know Christofias, and we are the ones who can best assess the situation in Cyprus. They most probably share our views.”

Talat stated that there were no disagreements with Ankara. “We may have some disagreements in the future, during the most important, most lively period of negotiations,” said Talat. “However, it would be strange to have disagreements at the moment. There are no disagreements.”

In response to another question, Talat said that they did not discuss the ports issue during the meeting in Ankara.

Talat stated that the Turkish side handed its proposal of confidence building measures to the UN Secretary-General. “The problem in Cyprus is not the confidence building measures,” said Talat. “The problem in Cyprus up until now has been the lack of will to solve the problem. That was the reason of the rise in lack of confidence.” Talat pointed to the fact that the opening of the crossing points did not create the expected effect. “Negotiations would serve as the strongest confidence building measure,” added Talat.

In response to another question, President Talat stated that they expect the UN to take an initiative for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Talat said that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side are determined to reach a comprehensive solution by the end of the year. “The Cyprus problem has remained unresolved for too long. It has to be solved as soon as possible... We expect the Secretary-General to take an initiative. We are waiting for the assessment trip expected to take place in the beginning of April.”

President Talat also said that the Turkish side had proposed the meeting with Christofias to take place between 17-24 March. Talat stated that he will be attending to OIC conference and Christofias will be in Brussels before those dates and added that during their meeting, he had told Moller that the meeting should either be within the next couple of days or during the week of March 17. “It seems he got a positive response (from Christofias), said Talat. “Our proposal was accepted. These dates are suitable for us... But there is no definite date yet.”

President Talat said that the sides will discuss and assess each other’s positions during the first meeting. He added that the comprehensive solution negotiations would begin with an initiative by the UN Secretary-General.

“We were expecting to meet with Christofias outside the UN framework,” stated Talat. “But he did not see this fit. He wanted to meet under the UN framework. We have no objections to that... I know Christofias from when he was AKEL’s Secretary-General. I don’t know his position today. I will have a chance to find out.”

In response to another question, President Talat stated that the Turkish side has no problems opening the Ledra Street Crossing point. He added that he does not know what is preventing the crossing point from opening. Talat said that there is no need to even have a meeting for the opening of the crossing point. “We are ready,” he stated. “But the crossing point is still closed... Even Moller could not explain to me what the problem is.”

President Talat concluded by saying that the 8 July agreement is a preparatory agreement, which will serve as a preparatory period. “Preparations are not the same as negotiations,” underlined Talat. “Do we really need preparations... We will see if Christofias will demand a long preparatory period. We have to come together first.”

 

TRNC STARTS EU HARMONIZATION STUDIES

Following the Council of Ministers’ approval for starting the preparations of “The Program for the Implementation of the Acquis Communitaire” in cooperation with the Prime Ministry’s EU Coordination Center and European Commission, the TRNC’s harmonization studies for EU acquis communitaire have started.

The aim of the harmonization studies is to improve the living standards of the Turkish Cypriot people and make necessary preparations for the implementation of the EU acquis communitaire in case of a possible settlement.

In the Council of Ministers’ decision the authority and responsibilities of the Committees established in coordination with the EU Coordination Center were described.

Within this framework, a Committee Responsible for Monitoring and Guidance was formed. 7 sub-committees were also established in line with the EU acquis communitaire chapters and the related sectors. Working Groups were also set up for supporting the studies of the committees and preparing their programs.

Within the context of the EU harmonization studies under 12 chapters, the presentation on “Statistics” on 15-17 April, on “Transportation Policies” on 24 April and “Social Policies and Works” on 28-29 April will be given.

Other chapters that will be started are: “Free Movement of Capital”, “Public Tenders”, “Corporate Law”, “Competition Law”, “Financial Services”, “Agriculture and Rural Developments”, “Food Safety”, “Transportation Policies”, “Statistics”, “Social Policy Studies”, “Environment” and “Protection of Consumers and Their Health”.

Meanwhile, the EU Enlargement Commission’s Deputy General-Director Jan Truszcynski is continuing his contacts in the island and met with President Talat on Wednesday (5 March).

 

REPORT ON “COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOLLOWING A SOLUTION TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM”

The Cyprus Branch of the Peace Research Institute of Oslo (PRIO) published a report entitled “The day after: Commercial Opportunities Following a Solution to the Cyprus Problem” and noted that the solution of the Cyprus problem has also an economic meaning.

The UN’s Special Representative for Cyprus Michael Moller yesterday (6 March) presented the said report at Ledra Palace Hotel in the buffer zone.

Speaking prior to the presentation of the report Moller stated that they desired a settlement in Cyprus and that a settlement would be for the benefit of both Cypriots and the entire region.

Explaining that the report has tried to answer the question of “What will a solution mean to me and my family?” Moller said he was very convinced that a settlement would bring security and a better stability in the region and would create the conditions for more trade and services and for the development of culture and arts. He added that Cyprus by achieving peace would set an example in the world.

Moller pointed out that the figures released only confirmed what common sense dictated, “that it makes economic sense to solve the Cyprus problem”.

 

TWO IDENTIFIED TURKISH CYPRIOT MISSING PERSONS EMIR ALI HUSEYIN AND HAVVA OSMAN YALLURI TO BE BURIED TODAY

Two Turkish Cypriot martyrs Emir Ali Huseyin and Havva Osman Yalluri whose remains have been found during the exhumations in the island and identities have been identified, will be buried with a ceremony today (7 March).

According to the information given by the Association of Martyrs’ Families and War Veterans, Emir Ali Huseyin and Havva Osman Yalluri who were kidnapped from their village Lacca (in Lefkosa) and shot by Greek Cypriots in 1964, would be buried at Gazimagusa Canbulat Martyrdom with a military ceremony.