The Turkish Foreign Minister - Chief EU Negotiator Ali Babacan has reaffirmed the Turkish side’s willingness towards restarting the negotiations process aimed at providing a solution to the Cyprus problem under the auspices of the United Nations.Touching upon the Cyprus issue during a press conference at the Turkish House in New York, Mr Babacan said the Turkish side will continue doing its best for a solution to the Cyprus problem.Meanwhile, Mr. Babacan arrives in the TRNC on Thursday for a one day visit.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan called his contacts at the UN Headquarters in New York as very useful and said that the Cyprus issue and Turkey’s EU membership process were on top of the agenda.
Mr Babacan had informed his counterparts on the latest developments on the Cyprus issue, including last month’s Talat-Papadopoulos meeting.
Reminding of the Turkish Cypriot People’s approval of the Annan Plan in 2004, the Turkish Foreign Minister expressed disappointment over the fact that the Turkish Cypriot People is still suffering under international isolation while the Greek Cypriot Side which rejected the Plan, enjoys the EU membership.
Mr Babacan also pointed out that the Cyprus problem started during 1960s and that after tragedies lived during these years had forced Turkey to intervene the situation on the basis of her rights stemming from international agreements as a guarantor power in Cyprus.
`At the time, we had justifying reasons to intervene, and today we still have justifying reasons to stay there`