Greek Cypriot Term Presidency A Misfortune for EU, Says Turkish Deputy PM
Friday, 22 June 2012
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay on Friday said that the EU term presidency of the Greek Cypriot administration was an unfair and wrong decision and their term presidency was a misfortune for the EU.
During the Greek Cypriot term presidency, there will be a certain deadlock in Turkey-EU relations and in the negotiations process in Cyprus, Atalay stressed.
President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Dervis Eroglu met with Besir Atalay in his office in Lefkosa on Friday. Turkey's Ambassador in Lefkosa Halil Ibrahim Akca, Turkish Cypriot Minister of Interior and Local Administrations Nazim Cavusoglu and Turkish Cypriot Presidential Undersecretary Hasan Gungor also attended Eroglu's meeting with Atalay.
Speaking to reporters while meeting Atalay, President Eroglu said he was pleased to see Atalay in the TRNC.
"Ever since Atalay was assigned responsibility for relations with the TRNC, he has been working for the tranquility and happiness of Turkish Cypriots," Eroglu noted.
It is pleasing to see Atalay in the TRNC frequently as he wishes to see what could be done in the TRNC. We are happy to see Turkey, a great and strong state in the center of the world, devote time to the TRNC among their busy agenda and we thank Turkey for that, Eroglu indicated.
"Economic figures pleasing", Atalay
Deputy Prime Minister Atalay said that his duty involved Turkey-TRNC relations and the related works.
Every time I come to the TRNC, I visit President Eroglu and try to benefit from his political experiences, Atalay noted.
Following my arrival to the TRNC on Thursday night, I had a long meeting with the technical delegation. I was pleased with the information I received. There seems to be no problem with the budget. The economic figures of the TRNC are pleasing. We had a chance to discuss various issues, including energy, Atalay remarked.
The economic performance of the TRNC is good. Occupancy rates at hotels in the TRNC are pleasing. We do hope that the universities here catch their performance displayed last year in 2012, Atalay stated.
"There will be deadlock"
Touching on the issue of Cyprus, Atalay said that there was a political deadlock.
The EU term presidency of Greek Cypriots is an unfair and wrong decision and we consider it as a misfortune for the EU, Atalay stressed.
During the Greek Cypriot term presidency, there will be a deadlock in Turkey-EU relations and the negotiations process in Cyprus, Atalay noted.
Regardless of the results of Cyprus negotiations, the Turkish Cypriots will always stand strong on their feet. There is a strong Turkey and a strong TRNC. At a time of global economic earthquakes, both Turkey and the TRNC are performing well, Atalay said.
Reminding that he read news on Russia's plans to purchase a base in the Greek Cypriot administration to help the Greek Cypriots financially, Atalay said that such news were important.
Friday, 22 June 2012
Anadolu Agency
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/13752 ... ty-pm.html
I think we need Cap's nice cat picture again.
