ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Turkey was in favor of reaching a just and permanent solution on the basis of realities in Cyprus issue.
Holding a press conference at Ankara's Esenboga Airport prior to his departure to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Erdogan said that he was paying his first official visit to TRNC with a delegation comprising of deputy prime minister, ministers and deputies. He added that they would hold contacts with TRNC President Rauf Denktas, TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu, some government officials, TRNC Parliament Speaker Vehbi Zeki Serter and leaders of political parties.
Noting that Cyprus issue passed through a critical stage, Erdogan said that a new milieu and atmosphere were formed in the island with the step taken by TRNC.
Erdogan said, ''we consider these developments positive. It is important to provide confidence milieu between the two sides. This will also provide facilities to reach a comprehensive solution on the basis of realities. We believe this. We will take up and evaluate the current stage of Cyprus issue with Denktas and TRNC government. We will search the ways of solving the problems of TRNC economy within this scope.''
Erdogan said that Turkey was in favor of reaching a just and permanent solution on the basis of realities in Cyprus issue. He added that they intended to carry on their efforts in this respect and they supported good will mission of the United Nations Secretary General with this understanding.
Erdogan said that Turkey would continue to support Turkish Cypriots as a requirement of its obligations stemming from international agreements.
Responding to questions of journalists asking Erdogan ''today it is European Union day, is there any special meaning of your choosing this day to visit TRNC?'' Erdogan said that ''today's being EU day is also important for us. We chose today due to the importance we attributed to it. This is also an expression of the fact that we attribute importance to Turkey's accession to the EU and Cyprus issue.''
When reminded about the claims saying that there were demands from the U.S. about the withdrawal of Turkish military existence in north of Iraq, Erdogan said that ''all of these are made-up stories. There is neither such a demand, nor such a gossip. I heard it from press members. Such a thing is out of question.''
When reminded about the statement of Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos who assessed the visit as ''illegal'', Prime Minister Erdogan said that ''my evaluating this here is unnecessary. My making the evaluations in Cyprus would be more suitable. So please be patient.''
(GC-ÖS-AÖ) 09.05.2003