TRNC NEWS HEADLINES

TALAT MET BARROSO AT PRESIDENTIAL PALACE

Yesterday President Mehmet Ali Talat met President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso who arrived in Cyprus for contacts. After the meeting which took place at the Presidential Palace Talat and Barroso made short statements to the press.

President Talat qualified his meeting with Barroso as very useful and said that the visit is the proof of the European Union’s support to a settlement. He added that the visit of Barroso showed the continuation of the willingness and encouragement of the EU for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

In his statement Barroso expressed the Commission’s support to the ongoing peace process in Cyprus .

BARROSO: “THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A SOLUTION … THIS OPPORTUNITY IS NOT FOREVER…”

President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso who arrived in Cyprus for contacts said that a good opportunity has been obtained in order to solve the problem in Cyprus and this opportunity should not be missed. Barroso said that if a solution would be reached in Cyprus the EU would do its best to make it stronger.

Indicating that he discussed the confidence building measures with the two leaders Barroso said that if the Yesilirmak Gate was opened the EU was ready to finance building of the road in the region.

About the claims that Turkey would hinder the process Barroso stressed that he met with President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan and both were in a positive attitude regarding reaching a solution in Cyprus .

TALAT: “BOTH SIDES ARE PREPARING A COMMON PLAN FOR THE FIRST TIME”

President Mehmet Ali Talat said that for the first time both leaders prepared a common plan in the negotiation process.

Talat : “For the first time leaders prepared a common plan . In the past the parties put forward their views and the UN prepared a draft proposal. This was the case in both the Gali Set of Ideas and the Annan Plan.

Talat said that the Greek Cypriot Side which has all the opportunities has no excitement for a solution. However Turkish Cypriot Side is under isolations and this is very difficult. Talat said that the international community and the EU are responsible for this.

President Talat added that the external interventions during the negotiation process like the agreement of the Greek Cypriot side with the UK and the Russia affected the process negatively.

TURKISH MINISTER OF STATE AND CHIEF NEGOTIATOR BAGIS: “ TURKEY WILL OPEN ITS PORTS TO THE GREEK CYPRIOT VESSELS WHEN THE EU FULFILS ITS OBLIGATION AND ENDS THE ISOLATIONS ON THE TRNC”

Turkish Minister of State and the Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis has said that Turkey ’s ports can not be open to the Greek Cypriot vessels before lifting of the isolations on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus .

Speaking in Brussels at the Europe’s Policy Centre, Turkish Minister of State and Chief Negotiator with the EU Egemen Bagis said that the disagreement in Cyprus can not hinder Turkey’s EU membership as it did not prevented the Greek Cypriot Side’s membership to the block.On the lifting of the international isolations on the TRNC, Bagis reminded that the Council of Europe has unanimously agreed to end the isolations in April 2004 but has failed to put its decision into practice.
‘ Turkey is expecting the EU to launch direct trade with the TRNC by putting its own decision into practice’ he added. Noting that this kind of step by the EU will not mean to recognize the TRNC, Bagis said a few countries recognize Taiwan despite it is having trade relations with many countries around the world.

Stressing that Turkey will open its ports to the Greek Cypriot vessels when the EU fulfils its obligation and ends the isolations on the TRNC; Turkish Minister said this also will not mean that Turkey is going to recognize the Greek Cypriot Side.