Cyprus-Forum.com

by **halil** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:12 pm

The Cyprus Rapporteur of the Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Joachim Horster has embarked on his contacts in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Mr Horster started his contacts with a meeting with the Speaker of the TRNC Parliament Fatma Ekenoglu at the Parliament building.
The Rapporteur also received by President Mehmet Ali Talat.
No statement was issued before or after that meeting.

Speaking during her discussions with the German Rapporteur, Parliamentary Speaker Fatma Ekenoglu expressed satisfaction over the presence of a Turkish Cypriot representative at the Council of Europe and added that work has been continuing on the representation of North Cyprus at the European Union.

On the UN Secretary General’s latest report on Cyprus in which there is an expression referring to the “sense of isolation felt by the Turkish Cypriot community “, the speaker said “isolation is far from being a feeling. It is a reality being faced in all fields of the life”.
She added that the Council of Europe was also information on the isolation imposed on North Cyprus.

Calling on the Council of Europe to direct the European Union towards lifting the isolation on the Turkish Cypriot people, she said `we expect the Council to prepare a good and balanced report`.
For his part, Mr Horster said that his report will help the two sides of the Green line.

`We are not interested with the past. We are looking to the future. Because of this, all of our work is for the future`.
Later, the Rapporteur was received by Prime Minister – CTP Leader Ferdi Sabit Soyer.

Before the meeting, the Premier told reporters that he would reiterate the Turkish Cypriot People’s support to a solution on the island during his meeting with Mr Horster.
The German Rapporteur also held discussions with deputy-Prime Minister – Foreign Minister – ORP Leader Turgay Avci and the leader of the main opposition National Unity Party Tahsin Ertugruloglu.