Talat says US visit upgraded Turkish Cypriot status

He held talks with Secretary of State Colin Powell, who called him "Mr. Prime Minister," and secured pledges from the U.S. administration for measures to end the Turkish Cypriots’ international isolation after they voted for a U.N. plan to reunify the island, which was killed off by the Greek Cypriot rejection.

"The visit to the United States is indicative of the fact that the Turkish Cypriot side, although not recognized as a state, has turned into a respected party," Talat said during a layover in Istanbul.

In Washington, a confident Talat said at a press conference prior to his return that the referendum results have shown the world that the Cyprus Republic was the Greek Cypriot government only, not representing the Turkish side in the north of island.

"The Greek Cypriot government should be treated as such. Even if it is recognized as the Cyprus Republic, it should be treated as the Greek Cypriot government," Talat told the press conference.

In addition to Powell calling Talat "Mr. Prime Minister," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher last week used the term "Greek Cypriot government" for the first time in four decades.

The U.S. remarks caused fury in Greek Cyprus, and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos said the remarks could be deemed "very hostile" if they were not a slip of the tongue. Boucher said in response that there was no mistake.

The Turkish Cypriots voted 65 percent in favor of the plan, which foresaw a loose federation of Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

Talat said in Istanbul on Saturday that the Turkish Cypriots could no longer be accused of favoring division or of being uncompromising.

"What we have agreed with Mr. Powell is that it was no longer meaningful to continue isolating the Turkish Cypriots from the world. Therefore, we requested that this isolation should end. He said he was fully in agreement with us and that this was why I had been invited to Washington," Talat said in Istanbul.

Measures on the way
The U.S. administration, which strongly supported the U.N. plan, expressed disappointment over the Greek Cypriot rejection and pledged a set of measures to help end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots as a reward for their support for the plan.

U.S. officials from the White House, State Department and Treasury agreed last week on proposed measures last week and, according to reports, the administration will announce them as early as this week.

Among the proposed measures are steps to introduce direct U.S. flights, direct economic aid to Turkish Cyprus and close diplomatic dialogue. According to U.S. officials, the administration is also planning to channel $400 million in funds, originally earmarked to support reunification on the island, to Turkish Cyprus, although the reunification plan failed.

Talat also held talks with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan during his visit. He said his comments in an upcoming Cyprus report, due to be presented to the U.S. Security Council, will have a substantial impact on the international community’s Cyprus policy.