PRESIDENT TALAT: “TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE IS READY FOR A SOLUTION”

President Mehmet Ali Talat in a reception organized in honor of the members of the “Experts’ Committees” which functioned during the preparation and drafting of the Annan Plan gave information about the current situation with regard to the Cyprus problem.

President Talat stressed that the Turkish Cypriot people were still ready to contribute to a solution in Cyprus just like they were during the period of the Annan plan.

Explaining that the period of the Annan plan was a great experience for the Turkish Cypriot people who proved to the world their determination towards a settlement, Talat said however the Greek Cypriot side was still continuing with their intransigent stance and the world could not do anything about this. Talat added that the Greek Cypriots who convinced the world for years that they desired a solution, suddenly appalled the world by rejecting the Annan plan, but while on one hand spending intensive efforts to recover themselves afterwards, on the other hand have done their utmost to prevent the lifting of the Turkish Cypriots’ isolation. Talat said this was in fact a shame of the world.

Pointing out that the point reached in the Cyprus issue was the beginning of a new process, Talat said he expected the UN to start a new initiative soon and the Greek Cypriot side to act in favor of a settlement just like the Turkish Cypriot side.