TRNC NEWS HEADLINES

PRESIDENT TALAT IS GOING TO HELSINKI

President Mehmet Ali Talat is going to Helsinki as a guest of Finland Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb.

According to the statement from the Presidency, President Talat will meet with Finland Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb on Wednesday at 13.00 and then will meet with Ex Foreign Minister and Member of Parliament Erkki Tuomioja and Member of Parliament Jaakko Laakso separately.

Within the framework of his Helsinki visit President Talat will meet with several media and think tank groups and will exchange information.

PRESIDENT TALAT WILL INFORM THE ASSEMBLY

The Assembly General Committee will come together in an extraordinary meeting on 23 of July for the Cyprus Issue.

President Mehmet Ali Talat will inform the Members of Parliament about the current situation of the Cyprus Problem.

PRESIDENT TALAT: “YESILIRMAK ISSUE IS MORE DIFFICULT THAN CYPRUS PROBLEM”

President Mehmet Ali Talat stated that there are lots of details so the opening of the gate is delayed.

Talat also stated that Yesilirmak issue took more time than Cyprus issue in yesterday’s meeting with Greek Cypriot Administration Leader Dimitris Hristofias.

Talat also underlined that the ‘Territory’ issue which is being handled in the negotiations will be cleared after all other issues will be agreed on and said that he hopes the ‘Territory’ issue will be finished in the next weeks meeting.

VERHEUGEN: IT IS RIGHT OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS TO USE EU MEMBER ADVANTAGES

President Mehmet Ali Talat and Vice-President of the European Commission Gunter Verheugen met yesterday.

Verheugen stated that he evaluated the current process with President Mehmet Ali Talat and he is pleased from the progress. Also added that the two Leaders are trying their best for a solution which will please both sides and it is right of the Turkish Cypriots to have the benefits of the EU Membership.

Verheugen expressed the EU Commission’s full support to the efforts towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

President Mehmet Ali Talat stated that Verheugen is very experienced about Cyprus Issue and he is very happy that Verheugen repeated that he is a friend of Turkish Cypriots and will be helping them.

FOREIGN MINISTER OZGURGUN: “GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE CONTINUES ITS IRRESPONSIBLE POLICY”

Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun said that the Greek Cypriot administration Spokesman Stephanos Stefanu’s latest statement on the issue of oil and natural gas exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean was proved that they would continue their irresponsible policy against all warnings of Turkish Cypriot side.

Ozgurgun stated that the Greek Cypriot’s claim like “I’m the sovereign side and can do whatever I want” was totally baseless and escalate the tension on the island and region.

Ozgurgun added: “With these statements, Greek Cypriot side tries to create new crises in Eastern Mediterranean in order to proceed the Cyprus issue in the direction of their aims.”

Underlining that the issues like exclusive economic zone the limitation of determination are directly linked with the Cyprus issue, Ozgurgun continued:

“It cannot be expected from us not to react against the attempts of Greek Cypriot side to shift the existing situation. Such issues will be solved within the framework of comprehensive settlement. Within this context, it is clear that an immediate and just agreement should be found to the Cyprus issue in order to make the oil and natural gas reserves in the region beneficial for the two peoples of the island, as well as the whole region. Before reaching a comprehensive settlement, the Greek Cypriot side, with its policy with the mentality of snatch and run, escalates the tension in the region and disturbs the confidence tried to be established between the two sides on the island.”