Statement by the Presidential Spokesperson of the TRNC Mr. Hasan Ercakica

The inclusion of expressions, regarding the lifting of the isolations the Turkish Cypriots have been subjected to, in the UK-Turkey Strategic Partnership Memorandum signed on 23 October 2007, have been defined by the Greek Cypriots as a step “to recognize the TRNC” and met with harsh criticism.

This stance of the Greek Cypriot side is nothing more than the reflection of the policy they have been employing since 2004. The Greek Cypriot authorities, who could not digest the efforts of lifting the isolations imposed on Turkish Cypriots so as to motivate their efforts to reach a solution for the Cyprus problem, have been, as a means to avert such a move, clinging on the allegations that “TRNC will be recognized” and there will be a permanent partition. As there is nothing more likely than lifting of the isolations imposed on people who have established their wish to live in Cyprus as “equal partners”, this objective is also being supported by the UN and the EU. The fact that the UK is taking steps in that direction should not be deemed as an extraordinary move, but, on the contrary, it should be deemed as a belated initiative.

The uneasiness these moves caused in the Greek Cypriot side are didactic in terms of indicating what the international community should do to make the Greek Cypriot leadership return to the negotiation table. The response of the Greek Cypriot side also indicates the accuracy of the call to lift the isolations.

The efforts of the Greek Cypriot side, who has been trying to avert the steps to be taken to implement the 8 July Agreement or to build confidence between the two peoples by employing delay tactics, directed towards condemning the Turkish Cypriots live by unjust and inhumane embargoes until they decide to return to the negotiation table, are not acceptable. It is, therefore, revealed that one of the reasons behind the fact that Greek Cypriots have turned the 8 July process into a process of diversion is to obstruct the initiatives that will end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.

As the Turkish Cypriot side, we would like to reiterate that we do not deem the lifting of the isolations as an alternative to a comprehensive settlement, we aim to commence the settlement negotiations by the end of a preparatory period of 2-2.5 months and to solve the Cyprus problem by the end of 2008 and we are still waiting for a response to the proposal President Mr. Talat has conveyed to Mr. Papadopoulos on 5 September 2007.