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Talat: E.U. Continues To Support Turkish Cypriots
Anadolu Agency: 2/14/2005
BRUSSELS - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat has stated today (Monday) that the European Union (EU) will continue to support Turkish Cypriots.

In a brief press conference after his meeting with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels, Talat said that theirs was a meeting which showed that the EU continues to support Turkish Cypriots.

Talat told reporters that there are three prominent developments in front of his administration. ''Changes have been made to the Green Line regulations and are waiting for final approval. The Commission continues to approach the Financial Assistance and Direct Trade regulations in the same manner as before. The two are complementary to each other,'' remarked Talat.

According to Talat, the Commission assured him that its support to Turkish Cypriots will go on. ''The most clear and symbolic step to lift the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots is the Direct Trade Regulations,'' expressed Talat.

''The regulations themselves are not enough. More must be done and further negotiations must take place. We will have more discussions on technical matters. We are getting closer to elections in the TRNC. We will continue efforts after the elections,'' indicated Talat.

''Decision making within the EU requires unanimity and, to make such unanimity possible, we have to wait until conditions get ripe. The signing of the Harmonization Protocol of the Ankara Agreement by Turkey, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots and Turkey's EU perspective are all related to each other,'' stressed Talat. ''We are aware of such relations. We will act accordingly. We have very close relations with the Turkish government. Our good ties will continue with Turkey.''

In response to a question, Talat commented that his administration has not connected Turkey's EU perspective to the regulations. ''Turkey's EU process is important in the resolution of the Cyprus problem and in the development of dialogue between Turkish and Greek Cypriots. We currently have no dialogue with the entity, namely Cyprus republic, that has become an EU member. The recent murder of a Turk in southern Cyprus showed that this entity is not willing to share any information with the Turkish Cypriots. We need a dialogue between our police forces, courts and politicians,'' said Talat.

Answering a question on a potential calendar that will lead to a solution of the Cyprus problem, Talat mentioned that the calendar for a solution in Cyprus will begin by a Greek Cypriot desire to find a lasting solution. ''We wish for a solution in Cyprus before October 3rd, when entry negotiations for Turkey's EU membership will begin, so that Turkey will not have difficulty on its road to full EU membership,'' said Talat.

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Seeking Azeri support to end KKTC isolation:

Gül also sought Baku's backing for efforts to bring into force international pledges to end the isolation of Turkish Cypriots.

Gül reportedly told Mammedyarov that Azerbaijan would become a model that other countries could follow if it takes steps towards ending the isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC).

Mammedyarov said in response that his government would work on the issue and encourage Azeri companies to do business in Turkish Cyprus.

Mammedyarov was received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer later in the day.

Turkish Daily News report