News from Northern Cyprus

Statement by the Presidential Press Office

The translation of the report prepared by TAK News Agency on 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 assessmentswhich 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.”

This document is prepared by the Presidential Press Office / Office of the Private Secretary to the President and is distributed to the members of the TRNC Presidency Web Site.