The Eagle has landed

Cyprus Times

The Eagle has landed

While speaking to the press outside the Palace Talat welcomed the Congressional Delegation and thanked USAFMC, TEPAV and The German Marshall Fund who helped make the trip possible. "Our guests have shown admirable determination in resisting all the pressures on them to cancel the trip," the President told them. "I would like to express our sincere appreciation for your visit, which I very much hope will lead to many more such Congressional visits."

Pointing out that the visit took place on Memorial Day, the day Americans commemorate the memory of those who gave their lives in defence of liberty, freedom and their country, Talat expressed his hopes that not a single additional life would be lost in defence of these values in the future.

Talat told journalists that they had a good meeting which focused on the current situation in Cyprus, reminding the Americans that the Cyprus problem continues even though the Turkish Cypriots voted decisively for a settlement in the referendum last year. He reconfirmed the commitment of the Turkish people to achieve a settlement and reunification, and explained that a solution would be achieved when both sides are willing.

"This is why this trip is so important," he said. "If the international community shows the determination you have shown to end the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, then the process of integrating Turkish Cypriots into the international system will finally begin. Then and only then we will be able to move into meaningful negotiations." At the end of his brief speech, President Talat called on the visiting Congressmen and their colleagues in the US Congress as well as the US Administration to help Turkish Cypriots to bring lasting peace to Cyprus.

Congressman Ed Whitfield then took the podium to address the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot press who were waiting to cover the press conference. The Congressman recalled Talat's victory speech on election night when he said that he was extending a hand in peace to the Greek Cypriot leadership, and that, "the hand would be there until it was to be held." Whitfield said he sincerely believed that one day that hand would be held and that during their visit to South Cyprus they would urge Greek Cypriot President Papadapulous to take steps to reunite Cyprus under a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.

Congressman Whitfield said that he understood very well that the Papadapulous government did not approve of their visit to the North. "He (Papadapulous) has stated himself that the Turkish Government should sign and implement the protocol which covers the free movement of goods and people. But he does not appear to support the free movement of people and goods in the North. We have come to Northern Cyprus because we support the free movement of people and goods throughout all of Cyprus -both North and South. We urge President Papadapulous to agree to this and remove his rejection of EU aid to the North.

The secretary General of the United Nation has urged all states to cooperate both bilaterally and in international bodies to eliminate unnecessary restrictions and barriers that have the affect of impeding the development and isolating the Turkish Cypriot people. This move is consistent with Security Council resolutions 541 and 550. So we urge the leaders in Cyprus to put the past behind them. We believe Cyprus has a bright future and its people are interested in reunification and we want the leaders of Cyprus to focus on economic development, creating jobs, improving healthcare and educational opportunities. For all of the Cypriot people the past is over. It's time to look at the future. That is why we are so excited about of being in Cyprus today."

Congressman Whitfield, answering a question put to him, said that they did offer to meet Papadapulous while they where in the Island, but due to the fact they were entering the Island through Ercan Airport they were politely refused. He said that he disagreed with any allegation put forward suggesting that they were acting illegally by entering Cyprus through the North and that they had extensive discussions with lawyers in the US State Department and the National Security Council. "There is nothing illegal about flying into the North," he reiterated.

Although attempts to block entry of the Congressional Delegation are over, controversy around the visit to TRNC continues. American Hellenic Institute President Gene Rossides protested the visit up to the last minute, even sending a letter to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, declaring the illegality of such a move. In an effort to rescue victory from defeat, Rossides claimed a success because a number of Congressmen scheduled for the trip dropped out. "We are very pleased with that result," he told the press.

Panicos Papanicolaou, President of the Cyprus Federation of America said the trip is a "very huge step backward," and asked the delegation to arrive from the South rather the North. The Supreme President of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association Franklin Manios, strongly protested the manner in which the delegation plans to visit, "the illegally occupied Cyprus because it violates the sovereignty of the government of the Republic of Cyprus , an ally on the war on terror." But even those 'buzz' words failed to weaken the resolve of the Americans to reach out to the people of TRNC.

As a further capitulation, it is reported that Papadopulous has decided to allow members of the delegation to pass from the North to the South to visit government officials. Once all visits are complete, the Delegation will leave the island though Ercan Airport, before heading for Ankara, for further discussions with the Turkish government.