ISTANBUL - Foreign Minister George Papandreou of Greece said on Monday that President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) put forward some proposals, adding that they were good, but they should concentrate on the future.
Papandreou attended a conference on ''Turkey and Greece: Leaving the Past Behind, Looking at Future'' held at Istanbul's Bilgi University in order to strengthen academic and cultural ties between Turkey and Greece, and responded questions of students.
When asked, ''Aegean continental shelf is one of the most important disputes between Turkey and Greece. Will Greece assume a more flexible attitude?'' Papandreou said that the Cyprus question laid beneath difficulties in relations between Turkey and Greece.
He said that Greece had a historical responsibility in Cyprus in 1974.
Papandreou said that Greek dictatorship of the period had displayed an attitude, which did not reflect real will of Greek people.
Noting that he wanted to talk about the issue of toppling down the Cyprus government, Papandreou said that they considered the operation in 1974 ''occupation'' although Turkey called it ''peace operation''.
Stating that both Greek Cypriots and Greeks had reached an opinion that there was a military threat from Turkey, Papandreou said that they had always wanted implementation of international laws which should constitute the ground of cooperation, adding that they should solve problems through good neighborhood and dialogue, not with threat of force.
Recalling that they had initiated ''investigative negotiations process'' to resolve the issue of continental shelf in Aegean Sea, and works under the process were under way, Papandreou said that they expected respect from Turkey regarding the issue.
Noting that Turkey had several concerns in terms of security, Papandreou stressed that Turkish vessels could sail in Aegean openly.
Stressing that continental shelf had not concerned them in the past because they had not had the technology to carry out research, Papandreou noted that they currently had high technology, and they had the opportunity of extracting oil in the area.
Papandreou said that the issue should be solved by mutual understanding within the scope of international agreements.
When asked what kind of contribution Turkish side and Greek side could make for whole Cyprus to join EU, Papandreou said that they wanted Turkish Cypriot people to also be members of the union.
Papandreou said that Greek Cypriot side would join the EU according to current situation and noted that a joint solution should be found for whole Cyprus to join the union.
Upon a question regarding TRNC President Rauf Denktas's latest proposal, Papandreou said that different proposals and measures were suggested in different times and stated that Denktas made different proposals and it was good.
Papandreou said that but people should look at the future and it was the agreement and stated that he was not the person who would make a decision on it.
He noted that ''Cyprus government'' would give this decision and said that they should keep agreement issue on the agenda.
When asked about description of Turkish soldier as an ''occupier'' on the island, Papandreou commented that it was an occupation. He added that Greece looked at the future, not the past. Papandreou stated that the Turkish Armed Forces had an important responsibility about this issue and that everybody was living in a different world today.
Military power was important for defense, but military power didn't ensure trust, said Papandreou, commenting that security was a broader concept. He stressed that he didn't regard any threat from Cyprus to Turkey, adding that an independent Cyprus would not constitute a threat to Turkey. In that respect, Turkish Cypriots would also play an important role, said Papandreou, adding that there was no military threat from Greece to Turkey.
Papandreou pointed out that military powers of both countries came together frequently, asserting that a big military presence in Cyprus was not the guarantee of prosperity, security and a good future for the island.
Greek Foreign Minister Papandreou said that Turkish Cypriots had to give decisions themselves about their future, adding that Turkey and Greece had to help them as partners in that process.
(UK-MS-EÖ-Öª-AÖ) 14.07.2003