The United Nations Secretary General’s new Special Representative for Cyprus and UNFICYP Chief of Mission Tayé-Brook Zerihoun who is in Cyprus for contacts with both sides of the island, met with President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias.

Following his meeting with President Talat Zerihoun in response to the questions with regard to the negotiation process which started following 21 March meeting between the two leaders, said it was too early to speak about this and when the time is appropriate the necessary statements would be made.

Zerihoun, who arrived on the island on Tuesday, also met with Greek Cypriot leader Christofias yesterday (14 May).

According to the Greek Cypriot radio, Zerihoun speaking after his meeting with Christofias said they would discuss more detailed issues in the forthcoming days.

In response to questions asked by Greek Cypriot reporters, Zerihoun said he conveyed the UN Secretary General’s best regards to Christofias and reiterated the UN’s support for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý stressed that the TRNC citizens of Turkish Republic origin, who have been living and working in the TRNC for years, obtained work and residence permit, raised their children here and accepted this country as their homeland, would not be a bargaining issue in a possible settlement.

Avcý stated that Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou, Greek Cypriot political party AKEL’s Spokesman Andros Kyprianou and former Greek Cypriot ECHR (European Court of Human Rights) judge Lukis Lukiadis were continuing with their inhuman and racist allegations against TRNC citizens of Turkish Republic origin, who have come here long time ago, have been residing here in line with TRNC laws and obtained citizenship.

Pointing out that at a time when the working groups and technical committees have intensified their studies with the aim of preparing a ground for the two leaders’ negotiations, the Greek Cypriot officials were continuously making injurious and depressing statements, Foreign Minister Avcý said Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Kyprianou described the existence of Turkish origin citizens in the TRNC as “illegal”, without questioning the legality of the Greek Cypriot administration.

Avcý referring to the statements by AKEL’s Spokesman Andros Kyprianou and former Greek Cypriot ECHR judge Lukis Lukiadis who claimed that the existence of Turkish origin TRNC citizens in the island was a “war crime” and Kyprianou who furthermore suggested to hold a census in order to find the actual number of these citizens, Avcý said Greek Cypriot officials’ such baseless statements, which are beyond their scope, has once more clearly displayed the Greek Cypriot administration’s intransigent and disrespectful attitude at the point reached in the Cyprus issue.

Explaining that the Greek Cypriot administration was continuing its delaying tactics by demoting the Cyprus issue to humanitarian issues which are very sensitive, Avcý said such allegations against Turkish origin TRNC citizens are unacceptable and it should not be forgotten that a solution should be achieved by protecting the rights of the people living in both sides of the island not only of those living in the southern part of Cyprus. Avcý added that these inhuman statements are the sign of an understanding which disregards the human rights of the TRNC people.

Stating that they were observing that the Greek Cypriot administration, who unjustly became a member of the EU which is totally against the discrimination of individuals in their basic rights and liberties because of their national or social origins, is acting against human rights Foreign Minister Avcý said: “The policies pursued by Greek Cypriot administration which do not recognize the existence of our people has not contributed positively to a solution until today. By insisting on the mentality expressed by Kyprianou, only serves to prevent any progress to be achieved in the solution process”.

President Mehmet Ali Talat’s Special Representative for EU and UN Relations Ozdil Nami stated that the studies of working groups and technical committee, which were established with the aim of preparing the ground for fully-fledged negotiations in line with the 21 March agreement reached between the two leaders expected to start in June, are positively progressing.

Evaluating the developments after 21 March meeting between the two leaders in Cyprus in a speech delivered at the third leg of the series of Strategic Agenda Panels which are being organized by the Eastern Mediterranean University’s Strategic Investigations Centre, Nami said the working groups and technical committees were performing their duties and success did not mean agreeing on all issues adding that the reason of the Greek Cypriot officials’ negative statements are because the Turkish Cypriot side’s rejection of some of their positions.

Nami explained that the issues which both Turkish and Greek Cypriot working groups and technical committees have agreed on are noted down and the issues which are not agreed on are being written.

Nami pointed out that the studies of working groups and technical committees were closely being followed by the representatives of five permanent members of the United Nations and the UN was acting as an arbitrator in this process.

Stating that the Cyprus issue has entered into a process which they deemed positive, Nami said President Mehmet Ali Talat has clearly put forward the desire of the Turkish Cypriot side to reach a solution by the end of 2008 and this was a realistic target.