Spokesman lashes out at Talat
By Jean Christou
GOVERNMENT Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides yesterday launched a scathing attack on Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat accusing him of arrogance and attempting to pursue recognition of the north through the back door.
Chrysostomides was responding to statements made by Talat during a news conference on Monday, where the Turkish Cypriot leader claimed the Greek Cypriot side was delaying the resumption of talks.
Talat has also accused the Greek Cypriot side of delaying the opening of new crossing points and of isolating the Turkish Cypriots.
Chrysostomides called on Talat “try to be honest with himself and the international community” about who was responsible for Turkish Cypriot isolation.
”He should not underestimate our intelligence or that of the Turkish Cypriots or that of the international community,” said Chrysostomides. “Mr Talat appears to have lost his calm but not his arrogance.”
Chsysostomides accused Talat of wanting the best of both worlds by maintaining the Turkish occupation while pursuing the upgrading of the ‘TRNC’ by seeking direct trade with the EU.
”He is in fact pursuing recognition through the back door,” said Chrysostomides. “He cannot possibly believe that something like that is possible.”
The spokesman reiterated the government’s readiness to return to talks that would best serve the two communities and not third parties such as Turkey, which he said was still refusing to recognise the Republic of Cyprus, although it would be signing a customs union with the 10 new member states.
“Turkey’s problem is not the non-recognition of the Republic of Cyprus but the recognition of the occupation regime,” Chrysostomides said.
Commenting on Talat’s statement that he would not accept the disassociation of the direct trade regulation from the proposed regulation for the financing of the Turkish Cypriots but would accept the money if it was given to him, Chrysostomides said: “This is a wonderful policy and marvellous logic.”
He also rubbished Talat’s comment that the Cyprus problem would be solved on the basis of equality. “If he means that this equality should be translated into something other than which the Security Council has set out as the definition of equality, that is equality at the negotiating table and equality of the states when a federation emerges, meaning another kind of equality, then he should explain what he means,'' Chrysostomides added.
Exactly what i've been saying...another muppet of Turkey who wants recognition of 'TRNC'.
