FM Gul sees flights to KKTC beginning soon

Turkish Cypriots are waiting for measures pledged by the European Union and the United States towards ending their international isolation to come into effect. The pledged measures are a reward for their vote in an April 24 referendum in support of a U.N. plan aimed at reunification of their island.

The EU Commission has drawn up measures to open direct trade with Turkish Cypriots and grant them 259 million euros in assistance, but they still need approval from EU ministers. The proposed measures do not address the flights issue, as the EU Commission said it did not have authority to tackle the matter.

"Soon, you will see flights to the KKTC starting. Efforts to that effect are at a final stage," Gul told a conference hosted by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ISO) late on Wednesday.

"It is a fact that Turkish Cypriots have regained self-confidence. They did their share and they have a bright future. There is no more pessimism, and Turkey is by their side," Gul said.

"No gray area left in EU bid"
The foreign minister also gave optimistic messages to the ISO businessmen regarding Turkey’s aspirations to get the go-ahead to start accession talks with the EU by the end of this year. He said Cyprus, previously cited by the EU as an obstacle to the opening of talks with Turkey, was no longer an issue due to Ankara’s support for reunification of the island on the basis of the U.N. plan.

"The Turkish side has left no gray area. Everything that it pledged to do has been done," he said.

EU leaders will meet in December to review efforts undertaken by Turkey towards meeting the membership criteria with a view to open accession talks "without delay."

"We believe Turkey will get the assessment it deserves when its efforts are evaluated on the basis of an objective and fair criteria, because it has displayed a strong will and done its share," Gul said.

According to the foreign minister, Turkey, with its revolutionary reforms accomplished in a relatively short period of time, has already passed the critical threshold in meeting the political criteria for entry.

The EU Commission is due to release in October a progress report, a document which is expected to shape the December summit’s decision on whether or not Turkey is fit enough to start accession talks.

Gul said Turkish reform would continue after the accession talks had started, adding that the process of talks was expected to be a tough period.