|
|
 |
 |
| |
Talat has key talks with top officials in Brussels
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat is in Brussels for key talks with high-ranking European Union officials to discuss prospects for a solution to the Cyprus issue in an effort to avoid a "train crash" in Turkey's talks with the Union.
Talat met with European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn and European Parliament President Joseph Borrell yesterday in the wake of efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem in line with the Finnish plan. He met with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Monday and will meet EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana today.
The latest plan from Finland, which holds the rotating EU term presidency, aimed at avoiding a "train crash" in Turkey's talks with the Union, foresees the opening of the port of Famagusta (Magosa) in Northern Cyprus under EU auspices in return for the Turkish Parliament's approval of the Ankara Protocol, which paves the way for the opening of Turkish ports and harbors to the Greek Cypriots. In line with the plan, while the Turkish Cypriots would conduct direct trade from Magosa, the Varosha (Maras) region, which is currently under Turkish Cypriot control, would be under United Nations control.
While the Greek Cypriots have protested Talat's visit to Brussels and his contacts with high-ranking EU officials, claiming that his status has been upgraded although he's the leader of an internationally unrecognized state, European Parliament-Turkish Cypriots High Contact Group member Karin Resetaris criticized the EU's policies towards the TRNC, accusing EU officials of not understanding the Cyprus dispute and therefore acting unjustly.
Austrian member of the group Resetaris, speaking to AB Haber news portal on Tuesday, also accused the Greek Cypriots of undermining efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem. She went on criticize to Austria and France's policies towards Turkey's membership bid in the EU, stressing that they are trying to halt the talks by making use of the Greek Cypriots' uncompromising attitude
Source: TheNewAnatolian.com / 2006-10-11
Next Article...
Rehn says EU powers support opening Ercan (North Cyprus) Airport / 2006-10-06 / TheNewAnatolian.com
Click here to turn main news page Cyprus News |
| |
|
|