ISTANBUL - Foreign Minister George Papandreou of Greece said on Monday that Cyprus was not the problem of the two sides on the island, adding that Cyprus would either separate or unite Turkey and Greece.
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, ''what can be done to leave behind the past in Cyprus and create a new future?'' Papandreou said that it had been quite difficult to discuss the Cyprus question in the past, noting that the two governments were holding perpetual meetings on the issue today.
Noting that the most important factor between Turkey and Greece was Cyprus, Papandreou said that the Cyprus question caused difficulties in bilateral relations between Turkey and Greece.
Pointing out that Cyprus was not the problem of the two sides on the island, Papandreou noted that Cyprus would either separate or unite Turkey and Greece.
Stressing that Cyprus would be independent, but the two sides would maintain their cultural ties, Papandreou said that the sides on the island needed security.
Noting that Turkish Cypriots could be afraid of losing their identity as their population was less than population of the Greek Cypriot side, Papandreou said that the Greek Cypriot side could be afraid of threat of Turkish side. He said that human rights and democratic rights would be under guarantee in the European Union (EU).
Papandreou noted that a political will should be displayed to reach a solution.
Claiming that the Greek Cypriot side had displayed a political will, Papandreou said that such a historical opportunity should not be missed.
When asked about statements of several circles in the EU against Turkey, Papandreou said that he did not agree with such statements, adding that Turkey should make several reforms for EU membership. Stressing that the door would be open to Turkey if it fulfilled those reforms, Papandreou said they would keep the door open, and the EU would also be ready if Turkey was ready to join the EU.
Noting that the EU had several values, and each of the European countries did not accept words of soldiers to effect politics, Papandreou said that this was a very serious problem in Turkey where soldiers played very powerful role from time to time, adding that soldiers had played important role in making decision on the future of Turkey, and he supposed also the Turkish Armed Forces understood it.
Stressing that relations between soldiers and a government which was elected democratically should change completely, Papandreou said that they did not impose anything externally at this point, and he knew that the Turkish government called them Ankara Criteria, not Copenhagen Criteria, which were very important for Turkey.
When asked whether or not his relations with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul were as close and sincere as his relations with Ismail Cem, Papandreou said that Cem and he had started from scratch.
Noting that he had gotten acquainted with Gul while he was serving as the Prime Minister, Papandreou said that their efforts and works had formed a very powerful ground and they were advancing on that ground, adding that Gul and he were continuing from the point left by Cem.
(UK-MS-AÖ) 14.07.2003