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Talat: The European Union has no capacity of providing guarantees for Cyprus; Cicek will attend the celebrations for the Turkish invasion

Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (15.07.09) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat has said that the guarantees in Cyprus cannot be changed and that the only system the Turkish Cypriot side trusts and could trust is the current one. The European Union has no capacity of providing such a guarantee, alleged Mr Talat in statements at the illegal Tymvou airport yesterday after his return from Ankara, which he visited upon an invitation from President Gul.

Mr Talat described as extremely useful his visit to Ankara and said that during his meeting with Gul they evaluated both the developments regarding the Cyprus problem and other issues concerning the occupied areas of the island. He noted that he also met with the Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and examined with him the current stage of the negotiating process for reaching a solution on the island and evaluated what should be done in the next stages of the negotiations.

Mr Talat said that during the meeting he held with Mr Egemen Bagis, the Turkish chief negotiator with the EU, they evaluated especially the relations with the EU, the relations of northern Cyprus with the Union and the support which Turkey could provide to the breakaway regime on this issue.

Referring to his meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan, Mr Talat said that they assessed various issues, including the Cyprus problem. No statements were made after this meeting, reports the paper.

Mr Talat noted that when the process is intensified they will need the help of Turkey more and added that Turkey has stated at every level that it is ready to mobilize all its possibilities for them.

Noting that in case it is proved that there is no need for guarantees, this could be discussed, Mr Talat alleged the following:

However, the fact that the Greek Cypriot side says that Cyprus is in the EU and has no need for guarantees means nothing for us, because we see and know that the EU has no capacity to provide such a guarantee. The only guarantee system we trust and will trust is the current guarantee system. It has been seen that this guarantee system works, even if with difficulty. In fact it worked late. Unfortunately it was not able to work, it did not work from 1963 until 1974. The Turkish Cypriots suffered a lot, therefore the guarantee system which the Turkish Cypriot people supports, wants and desires a lot, is of vital importance for us.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (15.07.09) reports that responding to a question Mr Talat said that he invited Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to participate in the celebrations for the anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus on 20 July, but they will both not be able to attend. Mr Talat said that Cemil Cicek, state minister responsible for Cyprus, will visit the occupied areas on this occasion, in case there is not any important obstacle. Moreover, he said, officials representing the Turkish President and the Prime Minister will go to the occupied areas.