PM Soyer: The wall on GC side is the symbol of their domineering attitude

Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer has referred to the wall on the Greek Cypriot Side at the end of the Ledra Street as `Wall of Shame` and underlined the need to show to the whole world that the wall is dividing the island and is the symbol of the Greek Cypriot Administration’s domineering attitude.

The Premier said the debate that has been going on about the footbridge at Lokmaci is just supporting the campaign of the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopulos aimed at hiding the wall of shame in the South.

He stated that the bridge at Lokmaci could be dismantled in just one day but added that the important thing is to do this within a framework of complete mutual understanding.

Mr Soyer was answering reporters’ question about the removal of the footbridge at Lokmaci after signing the condolence book opened at the US office in the TRNC in memory of former President of the United States Gerald Ford.

Stressing that `sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the people`, the Premier said it is unacceptable that leaders of some political parties, who are boycotting the Republic’s Assembly, are trying to shake the authority of President Mehmet Ali Talat who was elected with the free will of the people.

The Premier explained that a common position was adopted about the demolition of the bridge at Lokmaci at a meeting at the Presidential Palace attended by him, the Commanders of the Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus and the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces, the Foreign Minister and that President Talat acted in line with this common understanding.

Mr Soyer said Mr Papadopulos’ demands for the removal of, what he called as, `symbols` at the point have caused some hesitations, adding that the President has been trying to remove all these through dialogue.

He underlined the need for all the institutions within the State to act in cooperate for the sake of the state.

Mr Soyer said the Lokmaci Barricade is the symbol of intercommunal fighting which was sparked and fed by ideals of ENOSIS - the union of Cyprus to Greece – in 1956 and is the point where the island came to a point of division.

`The point turned to a barricade in 1963 because of ENOSIS and a wall dividing the two sides after the coup in 1974` he said, adding that the debate that has been going on about the bridge is just hiding this reality behind a haze.

Responding to a question when the bridge will be removed, he stated that the bridge at Lokmaci could be dismantled in just one day but added that the important thing is to do this within a framework of complete mutual understanding.

Referring to his meeting with the Speaker of the Greek Cypriot House of Representatives-AKEL Secretary General Dimitris Christofias on Monday, the Premier said he will ask Mr Christofias’ cooperation in the efforts aimed at restarting comprehensive negotiations at the end of March.

Mr Soyer stated that he will bring the letter sent by the UN Undersecretary General for Political Issues Ibrahim Gambari to the two sides into the agenda of his meeting with Mr Christofias.

The letter calls for the setting up of technical committees and working experts’ groups and the resumption of talks between the two leaders of the island at the end of March.

Underlining the need for the two parties to work together towards brining about a solution to the Cyprus problem, Mr Soyer said that during the meeting, he will ask Mr Hristofias’ support for the implementation of the timetable drawn up by Mr Gambari.

Mr Soyer noted that he will also discuss with the AKEL leader the need to remove the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people and to bring about an immediate solution to the Cyprus problem, adding that he will also express his opposition to a statement issues by Mr Hristofias that talks on the Cyprus issue will start in the year 2008.

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