Turkish Cyprus PM Talat plans to visit Strasbourg, Brussels

"I am going at the invitation of the European Parliament and the European Union," said Talat on Thursday, adding that they were working for an official visit to Britain.

Speaking to Turkish Cypriot news agency TAK, Talat said steps to abolish the embargoes on the KKTC were on the agenda of the United States, the EU and other interested countries, adding that they were waiting for U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Cyprus report to be released and a decision to be made by the U.N. Security Council.

"I am very hopeful for the future. In the very near future, foreign investment will start, and our airports and seaports will begin to be used. Direct flights will take place. In addition to all of this, promises have been made for further aid from the United States and the EU to help in the KKTC’s economic development," said Talat.

"There is nothing concrete at this level because we are waiting for Annan’s report and the Security Council decision. The United States, the EU and other countries will proceed according to this decision. If Annan recommends an end to the isolation of the KKTC in his report, steps will be easier to take. I believe the report will recommend this."

Both the KKTC and Turkey are waging a strong campaign to end the isolation of the KKTC, since the Turkish Cypriots demonstrated in an April referendum that they supported reunification with the Greek Cypriots. A U.N.-brokered reunification plan was defeated due to a strong Greek Cypriot rejection.

Talat emphasized that they are not bringing a demand for recognition on the agenda while lobbying for the abolition of embargoes.

"Once you talk about demands for recognition, you lose all your gains. You are not welcomed if you try to deepen division on the island while working for the end of isolation. For this reason, we are not pursuing a policy towards recognition; instead, we have initiated a campaign to end the isolation," Talat went on to say.