Cypriots united on Talat visit

Members of the Australian Peace Initiative for Cyprus (APIC) are calling on the Australian Government to help find a solution to the impasse preventing Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, the former Turkish Cypriot leader, from visiting Australia.

Mr Talat was invited by the APIC to visit Melbourne and Sydney to take part in conferences and consultations in relation to the Cyprus issue, involving both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities in Australia.

As previously reported, the Australian Government declined to support Mr Talat's visa application, on the grounds that his passport (issued by Turkey) listed 'Former President of the TRNC' ('Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus') as his title and profession.

"While we appreciate the Australian Government does not recognise the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus', according to Mr Talat, others have visited Australia with similar passports. We therefore call on the government to ensure they are applying the law consistently and fairly," said the APIC's joint coordinator Mr Tumer Mimi. "The refusal to grant Mr Talat with a visa has put a sudden stop to an important and privately-funded peace initiative and we urge the Australian Government to find a solution."

As Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Talat was the chief negotiator with Greek Cypriot leaders between 2005 and 2010. On his visit to Australia, Mr Talat was due to meet with Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to exchange ideas on human rights issues in Cyprus, as well as his proposals for a fair and just solution to the Cyprus problem.

The visit was due to take place between November 3 and November 14. Organisers confirmed with Neos Kosmos that he had no plans to attend any events in relation to the self-proclaimed 'TRNC - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.'

"The United Nations has been trying to negotiate peace between the two sides of the Cyprus conflict for decades, without success. While that support is crucial, we believe the answer may ultimately come from the people of Cyprus themselves. That's why Mr Talat's planned visit to Australia was so important," said Mr Spiro Constantinou, coordinator of the APIC in Sydney.

"Our aim is to find a solution to the protracted Cyprus problem by opening the hearts and minds of Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots and their leadership through open dialogue," said Mr Constantinou.

"We call on the Australian Government to support our activities by finding a solution which will enable Mr Talat's visit to Australia to go ahead."