Asking Turkey To Recognize Republic Of Cyprus Means E.U. Has Not Understood What Cyprus Problem Is, Talat
Published: 9/3/2005
LEFKOSA - ''Asking Turkey to recognize the 'Republic of Cyprus' (Greek Cypriot Administration) in which Turkish Cypriots are not represented means that the EU has not understood what Cyprus problem is'', TRNC PM Mehmet Ali Talat said on Thursday.
In an exclusive interview with A.A correspondent, Talat said: ''it was abnormal for Turkey not to recognize an EU member country, but this abnormality is caused by the EU, which admitted a country without solving its problem.''
''A divided country, the leader of which supports division, has been admitted within the EU; i.e. a country which is not European is included in the EU. That's the problem,'' said Talat.
Talat stressed that ''Turkey would not recognize the 'Republic of Cyprus' --as it is. Because, there are not any Turkish Cypriot in this entity. And, it is not a legitimate state since it doesn't comprise Turkish Cypriots. The EU had to admit the 'Republic of Cyprus' as a member after Cyprus reunited and after it included the Turkish Cypriots.''
TRNC PM Talat emphasized that Turkey would recognize only a newly-established ''Cyprus Republic'' and after the Cyprus problem was solved.
Talat said that the EU should honor Turkish Cypriots who was complying with the UN Security Council resolutions, and not the Greek Cypriots who don't.
Touching on the maneuvers to force Turkey to lift measures it took against the Greek Cypriot administration, Talat said that such a move would only increase the isolation of Turkish Cypriots and harm the economy of TRNC.
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