Baykal: A new day may dawn for the TRNC

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday met with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer. At a joint press conference afterwards, Baykal said that the international community should be ashamed of its failure to keep its promises to the TRNC. Saying that a new era may be beginning for the Cyprus issue, he added, �The attitude of peace and goodwill shown by the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot community on the international stage has come to nothing. The international community owes the Turkish (Cypriot) community. Promises were made, but not kept. On the other hand, this (Turkish Cypriot) community showed remarkable unity and cooperation." For his part, Soyer decried efforts in Europe and elsewhere to ignore the existence of the Turkish Cypriot community, calling the TRNC's forced isolation "inhumane." Saying that Turkish Cypriot young people are unable to take part in international sports events, Soyer stated, "Nor can they participate in cultural events. We can't have direct flights. Our right to direct trade is blocked. This is a major violation of human rights. We will continue our work to change this situation."