PM Talat: "It is now time to take concrete action"

In an article published in the Washington Times, one of the leading dailies in the United States, Talat, who was introduced by the daily as the prime minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, said, "on April 24, Turkish Cypriots voted overwhelmingly for reconciliation and a settlement with their Greek Cypriot co-islanders to end more than 40 years of conflict and division."

"Words of praise have since poured in for the ‘courageous decision’ of the Turkish Cypriot electorate and the efforts of my government to achieve this result. Statements were followed by gestures, some still preparatory, on the part of the United States and European Union (EU), in recognition of our conciliatory stance. It is now time to take concrete action, as stated by the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in his recent report on his mission of good offices in Cyprus, ‘to eliminate unnecessary restrictions and barriers that have the effect of isolating the Turkish Cypriots and impeding their development’," he said.

Prime Minister Talat stressed, "if the Turkish Cypriot people’s hopes for the future and their continuing vision for a settlement are not to be dimmed, the international community must act now. The package of largely economic measures announced July 7 by the EU Commission gives us hope. It is disheartening, however, that the Greek Cypriot administration strongly opposes these measures and even threatens recourse to European courts to prevent their realization. I call on the Greek Cypriot side to cease these counterproductive efforts in the interest of reconciliation on Cyprus, our common home, as I call on the international community, particularly the United States and EU, to redouble their efforts to end the undeserved isolation of my people."

"Clearly, integration of the Turkish Cypriots with the international community does not, and should not, stop at economics. A host of other measures are needed, from culture to sports and participation in international organizations, events and instruments. No political argument (concerns about explicit or implicit recognition) can justify leaving the Turkish Cypriots outside the international system, particularly in an ever-globalizing era. If the Turkish Cypriots cannot even play a sanctioned soccer match either with Turkey to the north or with our Greek Cypriot counterparts to the south, let alone any other country, the international community should reconsider its benign neglect treatment of the Turkish Cypriot case," he noted.

Prime Minister Talat said, "the best way to keep the Turkish Cypriots in their mood of partnership with Greek Cypriots and end four decades of punishing isolation, which would also concurrently motivate the Greek Cypriots to move forward for a settlement. At present, their government preaches their unconstructive attitude will yield nothing adverse and Turkish Cypriots can be kept in isolation indefinitely."

"Toward these objectives, international transportation, particularly direct flights, should be encouraged by governments and made possible for international air carriers. This is the only way tourism can be developed to its true potential and significantly boost the Turkish Cypriot economy. Free, direct trade between Northern Cyprus and particularly the EU, but also the united States and the world at large, would be in the interest of all. And direct assistance, such as the recent 30.5 million U.S. package provided will help reduce the imbalance between the development level the North and the South, making them more economically compatible," he added.