PM REITERATES TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDES DESIRE FOR A SETTLEMENT
Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer who is continuing his contacts in the German capital Berlin has reiterated the Turkish Cypriot Side’s willingness for a solution to the Cyprus Problem.
Soyer, who described the latest resolution adopted by the German Parliament on Turkish Cypriots as balanced, highlighted the importance of implementing the decision.
Within the framework of his contacts in Berlin, the Premier met with the co-chairman of the German Greens Party Cem Ozdemir.
The EU’s mistake of allowing the Greek Cypriot Administration into the European Union before a settlement was found on the island was highlighted by both men during the meeting.
“Now is not the time to bewail. The important thing is to find a solution to the Cyprus and to change those mistakes” said Soyer.
Criticizing the fact that Turkish has not been acknowledged as an official language of the EU, Soyer reminded that the so-called Cyprus Republic had two officials languages, Turkish and Greek.
“Despite the fact that the so-called Republic of Cyprus is an EU member, Turkish has still not been accepted as an official EU language” he added.
Underlining the importance of removing the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots in order to speed up the process for a solution, the Prime Minister said that a resolution adopted by the German Federal Parliament in past legislative term was an important and balanced decision.
Touching on the issue of Environment, Prime Minister Soyer said that the government was considering plans to encourage eco-tourism in order to preserve the environment at the Karpaz Peninsula.
For his part, the co-chairman of the German Greens Party Cem Ozdemir reaffirmed his party’s support to finding a settlement in Cyprus.
“We are ready to do all that we can for a settlement. We believe that a settlement will be good for both sides. There is no problem that cannot be solved if there is the necessary will. Seeing that the Greek Cypriot Administration has entered the EU and is supposedly representing the whole island, then it is there responsibility to make gestures of good will” he said.
Explaining that the Greens Party was working with environmentalists from both sides of the divide, Ozdemir said that his party was deeply concerned with developments in the Karpaz region.
He also pointed out that much of the natural beauty and environment in North Cyprus has not been spoilt because of the international isolations.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer will be returning to the Republic tonight.
Within the framework of his weeklong contacts, the Premier met with the Secretary General of the German Social Democrat Party Hubertus Heil, the co-chairmen of the German Greens Party Claudia Roth and Cem Ozdemir, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Federal Deputy for the SDP and head of Turkish-Cyprus policies coordination group Greg Andres as well as representatives of the Cyprus Youth Platform made up of Turkish Cypriot students.
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