by halil » Thu Mar 12, 2009 6:25 pm
The seminar was held at the Lefkosa Ataturk Open University Faculty this afternoon.
Representatives of Turkish Cypriot, Greek Cypriot, Turkish and Greek leading business institutions came together at the seminar for the first time.
Addressing the seminar, President Mehmet Ali Talat said that EU membership could only be achieved through the Turkish Cypriot peoples’ will for a solution.
He however added that the will of the people was not enough on its own to reach a political settlement on the island.
“Had the Greek Cypriot Side shown the same willingness as 1Turkish Cypriots for a settlement, North Cyprus’s EU dream would not hang in the limbo” he said, adding that it was important to maintain the will towards reaching a solution.
“Otherwise the EU door may close and this would not be good for anyone” the President added.
Talat also explained that the negotiating a settlement in Cyprus was difficult because of the inequality that existed between the two sides.
“You have one side that will gain much from a settlement and another side that has nothing to lose even in the absence of a solution, Talat added.
Also speaking, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer complained that efforts were being made to prevent Turkish Cypriots and Turkey from joining the EU.
Soyer also underlined the need to improve the country’s economy while preparing for EU Accession as well as to become an equal partner in Cyprus.
Explaining that the Greek Cypriot Side’s unilateral membership to the EU in the absence of a solution was creating difficulties for Turkey’s and the Turkish Cypriots’ accession in the EU, Mr Soyer said that the only way to overcome there obstacles was wanting a settlement and to bring the country’s economic, social and democratic structure to EU standards.
Stating that it was everyone’s duty to contribute to the success of the current negotiations process, the premier said as the Turkish Cypriot People will continue to work towards joining the EU.