According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (01.12.11), Turkey’s EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis, speaking to AA correspondent in Prague, said on Thursday that the Greek Cypriot administration (editor’s note: as he refers to the Republic of Cyprus) should leave aside their caprice in such an economic crisis atmosphere.

Bagis argued that the Republic of Cyprus would save at least 30 million Euro if Turkey opened its air space to Cypriot vessels.

Bagis said Turkey used to open its ports to Cypriot vessels until 1987, and this did not mean recognition. “Even if we open our ports in coming days, this does not mean that we recognize that ‘semi-state’,” he added.

Bagis said similarly, “If EU member states launched direct trade with the TRNC and Luftansa, Air France or British Airways operated direct flights to Ercan airport [editor’s note: illegal airport of Tymbou in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus], this should not be interpreted as a diplomatic recognition but evaluated as a commercial relationship”.

“Let them send commercial ships and planes to TRNC, and we will open our ports to Greek Cypriot ship for commercial purposes,” Bagis said.

Bagis alleged the Greek Cypriots should put forth radical and reasonable solution proposals instead of returning solution proposals.

The Minister expressed hope that Greece, as a guarantor state, would put pressure on the Republic of Cyprus and make recommendations.

“We hope that comprehensive peace initiatives, carried out by the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, will bear positive fruit before July 2012”, Bagis said.

Bagis said: “Thus, a reunified Cyprus Republic, based on political equality and representing the entire island, will undertake the rotating EU presidency in July 2012, instead of a state representing half of the island.”

“Then, we will be pleased to cooperate with that new Cyprus state,” Bagis also said.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (02.12.11) reports that asked whether there is a reply to his proposal for “Taiwan model” the Cyprus, Bagis argued that as it happened until today, the Greek Cypriot side gave an extremely “cold and negative” response to this proposal, as far as the Greek Cypriot press has reported. Bagis also said: “Actually, it would be na?ve to expect anything different from them”.