ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday that Turkey had exerted efforts for settlement of lasting peace in Cyprus.
Gul received the Executive Board of Academy of Sciences Turkish History Foundation.
Replying to a question about Cyprus report of Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA), Gul said that Turkey staged 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation within the framework of its rights stemming from the guarantor states agreement.
Regarding the claims that Turkey sent many migrants to the island which took place in the report, Gul noted that Turkey was not in such an effort.
Gul emphasized that Turkey had exerted efforts and taken steps for settlement of lasting peace which would satisfy all the sides.
All the steps aimed at building confidence, Gul said. He noted that nowhere could be reached by disagreement.
TURKEY FAVORED SOLUTION OF PROBLEMS IN ITS GEOGRAPHY THROUGH DIALOGUE
Asked if Turkey was getting prepared to open its border with Armenia, Gul said that such a situation was out of question but Turkey favored solution of all problems in the geography it was situated through dialogue.
Pointing to significant steps taken in human rights, Gul said, ''we are progressing on the road to become a European Union (EU) country.''
Gul added that steps were being taken not only to meet EU criteria but also raise living standards of Turkish people.
GUL: ''WE HAVE NOT TAKEN THE DECISION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTION NO 1483 UPON DEMAND OF ANY COUNTRY''
Gul said that they had not taken the decision on implementation of United Nations (U.N.) Security Council resolution no 1483 regarding restructuring of Iraq upon demand of any country.
Gul said that U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell did not have any demand about that issue and the decision that Turkey had made should not be perceived as a special demand of the United States.
He had announced before going to Jordan that Turkey would mobilize all capabilities for the resolution no 1483 and open its facilities to all countries which wanted to send humanitarian aid to Iraq, Gul noted.
Gul stated that the decision covered issues like settlement of security, tranquility and welfare during Iraq's restructuring.
(BRC-AÖ) 25.06.2003