Northern Cyprus Greek community threatens flights to Garabagh

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 19 2005

Baku, July 18, AssA-Irada — The Greek community of Northern Cyprus
has threatened Baku with starting direct flights to Upper Garabagh.

President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Mehmet Ali
Talat did not take the statement seriously. “I am confident that
these threats will not materialize”, he said.

Turkish media quoted Talat as saying that Azerbaijan’s steps at forging
ties with the Northern Cyprus will help extricate the Turkish community
of the republic from isolation.

A group of Azeri parliament members are currently visiting the capital
of Northern Cyprus Lefkosha. Along with cooperation prospects, they
have discussed with President Talat opening a direct flight between
Baku and Lefkosha.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a news briefing prior
to leaving for Russia on Sunday that Azerbaijan’s plan to forge ties
with Northern Cyprus ‘de facto implies recognition of the Republic’. “I
hope Azerbaijan will continue its steps in this direction”, he added.*