Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

The TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat has said that negotiations on the Cyprus Problem could start in June as planned if the working groups and technical committees continue with the good work achieved so far.

The President however pointed out that the working groups and technical committees have yet to focus on specific details.
Speaking during a panel on Tuesday, President Talat said that it was possible that more working groups and technical committees could be created as the two sides got closer to a settlement.

Complaining that the media, by creating its own scenario on the latest developments in Cyprus, was misinforming the public about what was really happening, President Talat said that it was not possible for the TRNC presidency to verify or confirm every news report that came out.
“We must be careful when taking the process forward. My hope is that manipulative news reports, especially those coming from the Greek Cypriot Side, are not taken seriously” he said.

Warning that the political atmosphere on the island could grow tense when full-fledged negotiations start, the President said that both sides could choose not to make statements in case a rising of tensions.
He said that the working groups and technical committees will be presenting the two sides with two separate reports regarding the areas they have reached convergence on once they complete their work.

Explaining that he was aiming to start comprehensive talks with his Greek Cypriot counterpart at the end of June, as planned, President Talat said that the reports will be taken into account during the negotiations during which the two sides will try to reach a common position on the issues the committees failed to reach a conclusion.


The Presidential Spokesman Hasan Ercakica has called on the Greek Cypriot to adopt a stance which is in more accordance with the process’s constructive spirit.
The Presidential Spokesman also said that the Turkish Cypriot Side and Turkey were in full harmony over the latest process.

Speaking to reporters during his routine weekly press briefing today, Ercakica said that the Greek Cypriot spokesman and Greek officials from time to time, were trying to establish the ground of talks with the statements they made.

Pointing out their statements rejecting the Annan Plan as a basis for talks was proof of this; the Presidential Spokesman said that the Greek Cypriot Side saw the process, not as a negotiations process but a way to get rid of the burden of having rejected the Annan Plan.

Also touching on President Talat’s contacts in Ankara last week, Ercakica said that the President’s contacts had been very productive and that both countries were in full harmony regarding the latest Cyprus negotiations process.