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PRESIDENT TALAT MEETS KUBIS AND JOUYET
President
Mehmet Ali Talat has met with Slovakian Foreign Minister Jan Kubis and
French State Minister in Charge of European Affairs Jean Pierre Jouyet
respectively.
During the
meeting between President Talat and Jan Kubis relations between the TRNC and
the European Union and the latest developments concerning the Cyprus issue
were discussed during the meetings.
Today, the
President is expected to hold discussions with Slovenian Foreign Minister
Dimitrij Rupel and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and
Security Policy of the EU Javier Solana.
President
Mehmet Ali Talat is in Brussels as guest of the Slovenian Foreign Minister
Dimtrij Rupel whose country holds the EU term-Presidency.
PRIME MINISTER SOYER: “OUR DETERMINATION TOWARDS REACHING A
MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE SETTLEMENT WILL CONTINUE”
Prime
Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer evaluating the latest developments with regard to
the Cyprus problem on a private television program last night (26 May)
stated that the Cyprus problem has entered a new phase with the meeting
between President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris
Christofias on the 23rd of May.
Soyer
pointed out that the new process with regard to the Cyprus problem should be
well assessed.
“Our
determination to reach a mutually acceptable settlement as soon as possible
will continue”, said the Prime Minister adding that the Cyprus problem
should be solved by the end of 2009 and the most important point was the
confirmation of all the rights acquired by the Turkish Cypriot people after
1974 with an international agreement on the basis of a partnership.
Reiterating
that the Turkish army would remain on the island until the solution of the
Cyprus problem, Soyer said the withdrawal of the troops was only possible
after a solution is found and an agreement is signed on the Cyprus problem.
Soyer said however in accordance with the Treaty of Guarantee a certain
number of troops would remain on the island.
FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI CONDEMNS THE ATTACK AT A MOSQUE IN
LIMASSOL
The Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý has strongly
reacted to Saturday’s attack at the Great Mosque in Limassol.
Calling the
attack carried out by two unknown assailants as `ugly and hateful`, he said
`the attack has confirmed the discomfort felt by the Greek Cypriot Side over
the Turkish-Moslem existence on the island.
He
criticized the Greek Cypriot Administration and the Limassol Municipality
for giving permission to the opening of a bar just next to the mosque, which
is open for worship, on a building owned by the Mosque Foundation.
He also
criticized the Greek Cypriot officials for turning a deaf ear to many
complaints raised by those using the mosque for worship.
Noting that
the Foreign Ministry has launched initiatives on the issue, including one at
the United Nations Peace Keeping Forces in Cyprus, he called on the Greek
Cypriot authorities to take all the necessary precautions, including the
shutting down of the bar and to punish those responsible for the attack. |
