Foreign Minister Gul In London

GUL: ''7TH ADJUSTMENT PACKAGE WILL BE ISSUED BEFORE PARLIAMENT RECESSES''
LONDON - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Thursday that 7th Adjustment Package would be issued before Parliament recessed.
Gul responded to the questions of reporters at a dinner that was hosted in his honor in Turkish Embassy in London.
When asked about 7th Adjustment Package, Gul said this was an extensive package, stating that, ''before the European Union (EU), we should ourselves believe in the package and be satisfied with it. We should knock the doors of the EU after this.''
Responding to a question whether or not all the changes would be issued in only one package, Gul said issues which required Constitutional changes should be kept separate, recalling that cooperation would be searched in the Parliament in this respect.
Gul said Turkey should be at a point to say that ''it meets the political criteria'' with the adjustment packages. He said, ''we believe that we will be able to say this with the 7th package. We will fulfill all those before Parliament recesses.''
Gul stressed that legal arrangements would continue after this.
Responding to a question, Gul said nobody should treat unjustly to military in Turkey. He said Armed Forces conveyed their views, yet that they supported the reforms. Gul said, ''it is unjust to show them as preventing everything. President has the right to veto, and he used his right.''
Gul said PKK/KADEK was brought onto agenda during his meeting with British Secretary of State Jack Straw for Foreign Affairs, and that he conveyed his interlocutor the attitude of Turkey on the issue.
Gul said, ''we have soldiers in northern part of Iraq. They can not tell them to leave there. They can not say this as long as there is terrorist forces there. They knew about our sensitivity.''
Meanwhile, diplomatic sources pointed out that Iran and Iraq were also brought onto agenda in Gul-Straw meeting.
Sources said Straw, who visited the region recently, conveyed his impressions to Gul, and that Gul expressed readiness for cooperation to meet basic needs of Iraq. Sources said the two ministers were in agreement on the issue.
Jack Straw also mentioned the concerns regarded with Iran's nuclear capacity, but that the two ministers also reached a consensus that intervening in the political process in this country was wrong.
The two ministers agreed that solution of the problems in Iran must be with this country's own internal dynamics.
GUL ADDRESSES ROYAL INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
Gul said that Turkey was resolved to provide democracy in the highest standards, human rights and economic welfare to its people.
Gul delivered a speech at the Royal Institute for International Studies in London.
Gul said Turkey's full membership to the European Union (EU) would prove that Europe became mature to accept an Islam country in itself, stressing that EU membership could mean being committed to standards of European democracy more closely.
Stating that all legal arrangements required by the Copenhagen criteria would be completed by the end of 2003, Gul said Turkey also continued reform program, and started to get the benefits.
Gul recalled that Annan plan, which had been brought onto the agenda on Cyprus issue, was unacceptable for both sides.
Calling on the Greek Cypriot side to adopt a more constructive approach, Gul said, ''we will continue to expend support to find a lasting and sustainable solution, and to set up a new partnership which can live.''
Stressing that an EU, including Turkey, would turn into a more equipped union, Gul said small countries could not add more to the EU. He said Turkey has this potential, noting that his intention here was not acting disrespectfully to those small countries.
Gul said Turkey was ready to do its best for peace in the Middle East, recalling that there were difficulties in this respect. Gul said people in the region suffered for long years and lived under violence and despair, adding that, ''this is not their fate. A new start is urgently needed in the region.''
Noting that a new period was opened in Iraq, Gul said that rebuilding and political rebuilding should be carried out together.
Gul said Turkey was determined to do its best to make Iraq to stand on its feet again, and pointed out the developments experienced in Moslem world.
Gul said, ''there is a great willingness in this section for reforms. However, we should not forget that own deficiencies in the Islam world is not the only reason of the difficulties. There are also the prejudices of the West against it. Prejudices that terrorism stemmed from Islam should be removed.''
GUL: ANNAN PLAN IS AT THE NEGOTIATION TABLE. LET US MAKE IT ACCEPTABLE FOR BOTH SIDES
Gul said on Thursday the two communities on Cyprus were willing for a permanent solution based on equality of the two societies, stressing that, '' Annan plan is at the negotiation table. Let us make it acceptable for both sides.''
Gul responded to the questions of reporters after delivering a speech in Royal Institute for International Studies.
Gul said Turkey had experienced economic difficulties and overcome crises, yet that economy was on the right track at the moment, and that program of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was under implementation.
Pointing out that there was an increase in growth rate, Gul said Turkey still has some deficiencies on membership to the EU, yet that they were aware of all of those.
Gul said the government was willing to form the best conditions for Turkey and Turkish people, noting that many reforms were made and that they were in an effort to fulfill many others.
Stressing that Europe needed Turkey in strategical means, Gul said Iraq crisis recently revealed this once again. He said Turkish people supported EU membership with a great majority.
Responding to a question about problems between Turkey and Greece, Gul pointed out that positive developments were recorded in ongoing talks between Turkey and Greece. He said those meetings regularly continued, adding that the sides approached the questions carefully. Gul said Turkey did not have an approach envisaging insolubility on Cyprus issue.
Gul said they worked for a lasting solution on the Island basing on equality of both sides, stating that it would cause many difficulties if the solution can not be acceptable for both sides.
Pointing out reciprocal passages between the two sides in the recent period, Gul said hundreds of thousands of people entered each others' borders, but not even an incident was experienced during the passages. Gul said, ''this is a real confidence building measure.''
Gul said economic embargoes on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) should be lifted, stating that thus a more optimistic and positive atmosphere could be proved.
''The year 2004 is important for solution on Cyprus, and we are aware of this,'' Gul said, stressing that, ''we know that Annan plan is on the negotiation table. We should work seriously on it. Both sides should approach constructively to the issue. I am optimistic about the results.''
Responding to a question about Iraq, Gul said situation in this country would be normalized soon, and noted that Iraq would reach a new system which is recognized in international means. Gul said, ''we should also support this. There is a new Constitutional council in Iraq. Studies of this council should be realistic.''
Pointing out that Arabs, Kurds, and Turkmens were in Iraq as principle elements, and that some other minorities were included in the structure of the population, Gul said, ''first of all, a demographic study should be carried out and Iraq should be preserved as one country. This new constitution should not allow division.''
Gul said in case federation or autonomy would be in question, this should base on regions, not ethnical or religious roots. He said otherwise it would be difficult to keep Iraq altogether. Gul said all the world supported Iraq's territorial integrity.
When asked what would happen in case Kurdish leaders in Iraq Talabani and Barzani dare to go beyond the autonomy, Gull said, ''not only Turkey opposes to this. Iran, Syria, and other countries in the region also oppose to it. Kurds and Turkmens in Iraq are our relatives. For years, we supported them through the Habur border gate and we will continue to do so. However, we are against division like all the countries in the Middle East. We want Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens and all other minorities to live in welfare and happiness.''
Responding to another question, Gul said not only TRNC President Rauf Denktas but also Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos opposed to Annan plan, yet that he did not clearly revealed it. Gul said, ''plan is at the negotiation table. Let us make it acceptable for both sides.''
Gul said he would visit Washington in the coming days, and put the final signatures to turn one billion U.S. dollars donation to 8.5 billion U.S. dollars credit. Gul said, ''we prefer to use the credit this way'', and noted that there was no problem in this respect.
Gul said Turkey proposed to help the sides regarded with Middle East peace, and expressed readiness to host a meeting about the issue. He said, ''we are also ready to be there in case there is a need to us.''
(AY-AÖ) 04.07.2003